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OLD  POTR  SRQWf 


HISS  TESSY 


CALEB 


The  Irrepressible. 


BY 

MARY  MONCURE    PAYNTER. 


CHICAGO: 

H.  M.  Paynter,  Jr.,  117  S.  Hoyne  Avenue. 

1886. 


COPYRIGHT, 
1883, 

MARY  MONCURE  PAYNTER. 


KOEERT  GRANGER,  I.  W.  HENDERSON, 

PRINTER,  BINDERS. 


y 


INDEX. 


'All  the  world  's  a  stage." 

PAGE 

Chapter  I. — Enter  Caleb,    .....        7 


Chapter  II,  ------  ,20 

"  She  is  coming,  my  dove,  my  dear, 
She  is  coming,  my  life,  my  fate." 

Chapter  III,     -  -  -  -  -  -  35 

"Tying  her  bonnet  under  her  chin, 
She  tied  a  young  man's  heart  within." 

Chapter  IV,  -  -  -    -  -  -  53 

"Two  water  drops  that  meet  and  mingle, 
No  art  of  man  can  e'er  make  single." 

Chapter  V,        -  -  -  -  -  -  -      68 

"  O,  my  love 's  like  a  red  red  rose, 
That's  newly  sprung  in  June." 

Chapter  VI,  ......  80 

"  Love  was  made  for  eve  and  morn, 
Ami  for  every  season." 

Chapter  VII,    -----  91 

"And  on  her  lover's  arm  she  leant, 
And  far  across  the  hills  they  went." 

Chapter  VIII, 112 

"It  is  the  HI  tie  rift  within  the  lute, 
That  by  and  by  will  make  tne  music  mute." 


6  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Chapter  IX,'    --'.-.-".  12(3 

"  O.  what  a  tangled  web  we  weave, 
When  first  we  practice  to  deceive." 

Chapter  X,  ......  142 

"  Trifles  light  as  air." 

Chapter  XI,      -  -  -  -  -  -  -    161 

"  Beware  of  too  sublime  a  sense 
Of  your  own  worth  and  consequence." 

Chapter  XII,  -  -  -  -  -  -  170 

"The  course  of  true  love  never  did  run  smooth." 

Chapter  XIII,  - 188 

"  Woman,  that  fair  and  fond  deceiver." 

Chapter  XIV,         ------  203 

"This  hour  we  part;  my  heart  foreboded  this." 

Chapter  XV, -    214 

"  Wait;  my  faith  is  large  in  time." 

Chapter  XVI,        -  ....  228 

"  If  after  every  tempest  come  such  calms, 
May  the  winds  blow  till  they  have  wakened  death  " 

Chapter  XVII, 242 

"  The  sweet  sunburst  may  smile  on  thee  to-morrow." 

Chapter  XVIII,     ------  251 

"Then  be  not  coy,  but  use  your  time, 
And  while  ye  may,  go  marry." 

Chapter  XIX, 259 

"And  one  man  in  his  time  plays  many  parts." 

Exit  Caleb. 


Caleb,   the    Irrepressible. 


chapter  I. 

ENTER  CALEB. 

"All  the  world's  a  stage, 
And  all  the  men  and  women  merely  players. 
They  hare  their  exits  and  their  entrances; 
And  one  man  In  his  time  plays  many  parts," 

"T^vE  Lord  hab  mussy !  Ef  dat  chile  ain't  after 
-■— ^  dera  chickens  ag'in!  I  'clar  foah  gracious, 
I'sa  gwine  ter  gib  dat  imp  ob  Satan  sich  a  dressin' 
as  he  can't  see  outen  his  eyes  ef  I  catches  a  holt  on 
ter  him,"  and  Aunt  Dinah  waddled  down  the 
walk,  with  eyes  glaring,  turban  awry  and  broom  in 
hand,  ready  for  the  onslaught.  She  made  straight 
for  the  hen-house,  but  when  she  opened  the  door, 
although  there  was  a  superabundance  of  evidence  in 
the  disturbed  condition  of  the  fowls  that  some  one 
had  been  intruding,  that  some  one  was  no  where  to 
be  found.  Here — there — every  where,  she  searched, 
for  Aunt  Dinah  was  not  to  be  overcome  by  obstacles. 
She  would  not  give  up  until  she  had  found  the 


8  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

object  of  her  search,  and  had  administered  the  whip- 
ping her  arms  ached  to  give  the  trespasser. 

"  0  here  you  is,"  she  cried,  stumbling  over  a 
figure  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  old  barn  ;  "I's  got 
yer  at  last — yer  black  imp,  yer!  " 

"  '  The  gods  defend  us ! '  What  on  earth  pos- 
sesses you,  aunty?"  and  the  dark  figure  sprang 
through  the  open  doorway,  holding  up  both  arms  to 
ward  off  the  blows  that  descended  like  rain. 

Aunt  Dinah  dropped  her  broom,  and  threw  up 
both  arms  in  astonishment. 

"Holy  Moses  an'  de  angels!     It's  Mar's  Jack." 

The  tall  figure  was  drawn  up  to  its  full  height. 

"Yes,  it  is  Mar's  Jack,"  half  laughingly,  half 
sternly.  "  What  in  the  world  possessed  you  to 
attack  me  in  that  manner,  auntie  ?  Why,  I  will  be 
sore  for  a  week,"  he  added,  rubbing  his  injured 
members  vigorously. 

"  I  'clar  foah  gracious,  I 's  awful  sorry,  Mar's 
Jack.  I  fought  it  war  dat  imp  ob  a  Caleb.  Is  you 
much  hurt,  honey?"  Aunt  Dinah  asked  anxiously, 
for  Mar's  Jack  was  her  darling,  and  she  thought 
him  the  handsomest  and  best  man  in  the  world. 
"He's  none  ob  yo'  'po'  white  trash,'"  she  would 
say,  shaking  her  head  emphatically.  "He  has  de 
blue  blood  ob  de  Templetons  an'  Peytons  runnin'  in 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  9 

his  veins ;  knows  who  his  ancestries  war,  an'  ain't  got 
no  cause  to  be  shamed  ob  none  on  'em,  eider." 

Aunt  Dinah  always  prided  herself  upon  the  fact 
that  she  had  once  belonged  to  the  Templetons. 
"  We  'long  ter  de  F.  F.  Vs.— we  do." 

Mar's  Jack  may  not  have  been  the  handsomest 
and  the  best  man  "'any  whar,"  as  Aunt  Dinah  de- 
clared, but  certain  it  is  that  the  tall  figure  and  clear- 
cut,  manly  face  would  attract  more  than  a  passing 
glance,  even  in  the  crowded  street. 

Aunt  Dinah  was  very  fearful  lest  she  had  done 
some  injury  to  the  pride  of  her  heart. 

"Are  you  sho'  you  ain't  hurt,  honey?"  she 
asked,  anxiously. 

u  Well,  that  is  the  coolest  proceeding — to  knock 
a  man  over  the  head,  and  then  ask  him  if  he  is 
hurt,"  and  Jack  laughed,  in  spite  of  himself. 

'  Well,  I  thought  for  sho'  I  had  Caleb,"  said 
Aunt  Dinah,  apologetically.  "  He  's  been  after  dem 
chickens  ag'in,  an'  I  'peals  ter  you,  Mar's  Jack,  how 
on  airth's  dem  hens  a  gwine  ter  set,  ef  he  keeps 
scarin'  dem  off  dere  nests.  Dey  '11  git  discouraged 
bime  by,  an'  leave  dem  nests  fur  once  an'  fur  good, 
an'  won't  come  back  no  mo'." 

"  You  are  right,  I  presume,"  answered  Jack, 
rubbing  a  bump  on  the  back  of    his  head ;    "  but 


10  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

where,    O   where,   is   the   delinquent  for   whom   I 
suffered?" 

"Does  you  mean  Caleb?"  asked  Aunt  Dinah, 
putting  her  head  upon  one  side,  not  exactly  compre- 
hending his  meaning. 

Jack  nodded  and  frowned  ominously,  but  with  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye,  nevertheless. 

"  Yes,  aunty.     Where  's  Caleb  ?  " 

Aunt  Dinah  straightened  herself  immediately, 
and  her  eyes  glared. 

*  Dat  's  de  question :  Whar  is  he  ?  "  and  stooping 
to  pick  up  the  broom,  "  dat 's  jis'  what  I 's  a  gwine 
ter  find  out,  ef  it  kills  me." 

"All  right.  Lead  the  way,  and  I  will  follow.  I 
owe  Caleb  a  grudge  for  having  received  a  part  of 
his  whipping.  We  will  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  the 
chase  together,  auntie,  provided  you  will  let  me  take 
him  in  hand  as  soon  as  you  get  through." 

Jack  spoke  seriously,  but  his  eyes  were  full  of 
laughter,  for  it  was  his  intention  to  save  poor  -little 
Caleb  this  whipping,  if  possible. 

He  led  Aunt  Dinah  into  all  sorts  of  places — 
places  where  Caleb  was  least  likely  to  be ;  but,  ah — 
luckless  fate — Jack  looked  under  the  smoke-house, 
and  there,  crouched  in  one  corner,  was  Caleb. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  11 

Jack  raised  up  quickly,  and  turned  to  go  away ; 
but  Aunt  Dinah's  eyes  were  too  sharp  for  him. 

"  O  ho !  Dar  you  is,  my  precious  sonny,"  she 
cried  exultantly.  "  You  don't  dislude  dis  niggah 
no  more  !  Come  out  from  under  dat  smoke-house, 
right  away !" 

"  O  mammy,"  cried  a  muffled  voice,  half  tear- 
fully, half  coaxingly,  "you  ain't  a  gwine  ter  wallop 
me,  is  you  ?  " 

"  Nebber  you  mind  what  I 's  gwine  ter  do.  You 
come  out  from  under  dat  smoke-house !  You  heah 
me  ?  Come,  or  I  '11  crawl  under  arter  you,  an'  den 
you  '11  wish  you  'd  nebber  been  borned." 

Now,  if  Caleb  had  known  what  was  best  for  him, 
he  would  have  remained  where  he  was.  The  im- 
practicability of  Aunt  Dinah's  crawling  into  a  space 
that  was  scarcely  large  enough  for  his  little  body, 
never  presented  itself  to  his  mind.  He  was  too  ter- 
rified to  think  of  anything  but  that  Aunt  Dinah  was 
coming  after  him,  and  perhaps  would  kill  him ;  so 
he  crawled  slowly  to  the  front  of  the  smoke-house, 
and  Aunt  Dinah  clutched  at  him  and  and  drew  him 
eagerly  out. 

What  a  poor,  forlorn  little  object ! 

A  short  fat  boy,  attired  in   a  faded  checkered 


12  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

shirt  lying  open  at  the  neck,  a  pair  of  old  pantaloons 
turned  up  round  the  ankles  and  held  up  by  one  sus- 
pender, and  boy  and  clothes  so  covered  with  dirt  as 
to  be  scarcely  recognizable — that  was  Caleb. 

"  O  mammy,  you  ain't  a  gwine  ter  wallop  me  is 
you  ?"  was  the  first  cry. 

"  O,  no !  I  ain't  a  gwine  ter  wallop  yer,  is  I  ?  I 
ain't  been  a  huntin'  you  fur  de  las'  half  hour  fur 
nothin'.  You  come  long  ter  de  kitchen  wid  me  an' 
see  whedder  I'se  gwine  ter  wallop  yer  or  not ;" — and 
Aunt  Dinah  dragged  Caleb  along  the  walk  towards 
the  kitchen. 

"  I  clar  foah  gracious  I  won't  do  so  no  mo' — " 
whined  Caleb,  drawing  back  from  her  in  terror. 

"  Well,  dat  won't  help  you  now,  sonny.  You'se 
a  gwine  ter  git  a  lickin'  fur  dis  all  de  same  " — and 
Aunt  Dinah  pushed  open  the  kitchen  door. 

Caleb  looked  appealingly  at  Mar's  Jack — and 
Jack  forthwith  began  to  plead  eloquently. 

"  'Tain't  no  use  fur  you  ter  say  one  word,  Mar's 
Jack.  I'd  like  ter  please  you  but  I  ain't  a  gwine  ter 
hunt  half  an  hour  fur  Caleb  an'  den  be  cheated  out  ob 
gibin'  him  a  lickin'  arter  all.  He's  been  a  needin'  a 
good  lickin'  fur  de  las'  week,  and  I'se  gwine  ter  settle 
up  all  accounts  'foah  he's  one  hour  older." 

Jack  saw  that  remonstrance  was  useless. 


CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  13 

"  At  least  send  him  to  me,  aunty,  when  you  get 
through  with  him." 

"  I  will,  Mar's  Jack,  ef  he  kin  Walk,"  she 
answered,  shutting  the  kitchen  door  aDd  locking  it. 

Jack  strolled  around  on  the  veranda  and  turned 
into  the  long  hall  filled  with  old-fashioned  portraits 
— "  his  great  ancestries  "  as  Aunt  Dinah  called 
them.  Pushing  open  the  library  door,  he  encoun- 
tered a  tall  stately  lady  dressed  in  the  deepest 
mourning,  who  greeted  him  with  a  smile. 

"  I  was  looking  for  you  my  son,"  she  said  in  a  low, 
sweet  voice.     "  Come  in,  1  want  to  talk  with  you." 

Jack  offered  her  his  arm  and  led  her  to  an  easy 
chair  near  the  table. 

"  Well,  mother  mine,"  he  said,  seating  or  rather 
throwing  himself  into  a  chair,  "  What  is  your  pleas- 
ure?    I  am  all  attention." 

Mrs.  Templeton  unlocked  her  writing-desk  and 
untying  a  bundle  of  letters,  handed  him  one.  Jack 
looked  at  it  curiously.  It  was  directed  to  "  Miss 
Alice  Peyton "  (Mrs.  Templeton's  maiden  name), 
and  was  written  in  a  straggling,  school -girl  hand. 
A  letter,  yellow  and  old,  telling  of  girlish  hopes  and 
fears,  of  girlish  dreams,  few  of  which,  alas,  were  ever 
realized.  Jack  read  it  and  turned  to  his  mother 
wonderingly. 


14  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Mrs.  Templeton  smiled. 

"  You  wonder  why  I  gave  you  that,  Jack,  dear  ? 
It  is  a  sort  of  prelude  to  what  1  am  going  to  say. 
The  letter  was  written  by  Agnes  Lester,  the  dearest 
friend  I  ever  possessed.  One  whom  I  loved  dearly, 
and  whom  I  never  saw  after  our  happy  school  days 
were  ended.  Here  is  her  picture,"  and  she  handed 
him  a  miniature  in  a  velvet  case. 

Jack  looked  at  the  bright,  happy  face. 

"Looking  in  those  laughing  eyes,  one  would 
scarcely  think  that  life  held  aught  but  happiness  for 
her.  But  in  truth  her  life  was  a  very  sad  one," 
said  Mrs.  Templeton,  speaking  as  if  to  herself. 

"  But  never  mind  that,"  she  added,  quickly.  "  I 
must  speak  about  another  matter.  It's  a  proof  that 
I'm  growing  old,  Jack,  when  I  revert  so  much  to 
old  times,"  and  she  smiled  sadly. 

"  This  morning  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Lee, 
Agnes'  husband,  written  from  Philadelphia.  He 
wants  us  to  receive  his  daughter  as  an  inmate  of 
Woodburn,  as  he  is  going  abroad  on  business  for 
a  year  or  so.  She  has  never  known  a  mother's  care, 
as  Agnes  died  shortly  after  her  birth.  Her  father 
writes  that  she  has  just  finished  school  and  he 
longs  to  place  her  under  my  care  as  she  is  young 
and  thoughtless  and   needs   a  guiding   hand.     So 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  15 

Jack,  dear,  you  have  the  whole  story.    What  do  you 
think  of  it?" 

But  Jack,  dear,  was  looking  at  the  miniature  in 
his  hand  and  wondering  if  the  daughter  were  as- 
pretty  as  the  mother. 

"  Excuse  me  mother,"  he  said,  looking  up  a 
moment.  "  I  did  not  quite  understand  your  ques- 
tion." 

"  I  asked  you  what  you  thought  of  it." 

"  Of  it  ?  Oh,  it's  very  pretty,"  holding  the  minia- 
ture out  at  arm's  length  and  eyeing  it  critically. 

"I  do  not  think  you  were  paying  much  atten 
tion,"  said  Mrs.  Templeton,  quietly.  "  I  mea* 
what  do  you  think  of  my  inviting  Katie  to  Wood 
burn?" 

"  Well,  the  fact  is,"  answered  Jack,  still  lookintj 
at  the  miniature,  "  I  think  I  would  write  for  he,t 
to  come  here  immediately." 

Mrs.  Templeton  smiled. 

"Like  mother,  like  daughter,  does  not  always  hold 
good,"  she  said,  quietly.  rA  pretty  face  is  worth 
but  little  if  it  is  not  possessed  by  a  true  woman.l  I 
would  rather  have  my  son  marry  a  true,  noble 
woman,  even  though  she  were  unlovely  to  outward 
view,  than  one  whose  pretty  face  was  her  sole 
worth." 


16  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

u  She  is  not  fair  to  outward  view, 
As  many  maidens  be," 

sang  Jack,  laughingly. 

"  One  likes  a  little  of  the  outward  view,  too,  some- 
times, mother.  Now,  I  should  not  love  you  one  bit 
the  less  if  it  were  otherwise  ;  but  don't  you  suppose 
I  take  a  certain  pride  in  knowing  that  I  have  a 
handsome  mother  ?" 

Mrs.  Templeton  looked  pleased  at  her  son's 
praise,  but  she  only  said,  "  We  are  wandering  from 
the  subject,  Jack,  dear.     I  am  to  request  Miss  Lee  to 

make  her  home  with  us  as  soon  as  she  is  prepared  to 
do  so,  then  ?" 

"  Certainly  ;  by  all  means,"  answered  scheming 
Jack. 

"  That  is  all,  at  present,  my  son,"  and  Mrs. 
Templeton  tied  up  the  bundle  of  letters.  "  The 
miniature,  Jack,  dear,"  she  added,  holding  out  her 
hand. 

"  I'll  keep  this,  if  you  please,  mother,"  he  said, 
coaxingly. 

His  mother  made  no  comment  but  locked  up  her 
desk  as  Jack  slipped  the  likeness  into  his  pocket, 
and  stepping  out  on  the  veranda,  he  lit  a  cigar,  and 
walked  up  and  down  with  his  hands  behind  him, 
wondering  if  a  young  lady  would  be  contented  at 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  17 

quiet  old  Woodburn — wondering  if  this  afore-men- 
tioned young  lady  were  pretty,  and  if  he  would  like 
her.  Despite  his  mother's  remarks  he  did  hope  she 
would  be  pretty,  for  "  twenty  "  and  "  forty  "  do  not 
regard  things  from  the  same  standpoint. 

Jack  was  aroused  from  his  reverie  by  a  smoth- 
ered sob,  and,  looking  up,  he  saw  a  dirty  little  figure 
crouching  down  upon  the  steps,  the  very  picture  of 
abject  woe. 

"  Helloa,  Caleb,"  he  said,  coming  round  and 
seating  himself  on  the  veranda  steps,  "  pretty  well 
used  up,  are  you  not  ?" 

The  black  fists  were  dug  into  the  eyes. 

"  Mar's  J-Jack,  has  you  got  any  ob  d-dat  lini- 
ment in  yo'  house  ?" 

Jack  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  laugh. 

"Liniment?  O,  plenty  of  it!  You  can  take  a 
liniment  bath  if  you  want  it." 

Caleb  sobbed.  "  I — I  reckon  I  does.  Mammy 
mos'  tucken  all  de  skin  offen  me." 

"  You  don't  like  a  whipping  very  well,  then  ?" 

Caleb  looked  up  resentfully. 

"  'Course  I  don't  like  ter  git  a  wippin'.  Reckon 
you  wouldn't  nieder  ef  you  was  me." 

No.     Jack  remembered  the  blows  Aunt  Dinah 

had  given  him  by  mistake,  and  did  not  envy  Caleb 
B       i* 


18  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

his  "  wallopin',"  as  Aunt  Dinah  called  it.  However, 
Aunt  Dinah's  strength  usually  gave  out  after  the  first 
few  blows.  And  although  Caleb  howled  and  danced 
as  though  in  a  fair  way  of  being  murdered,  his  "  wal- 
lopin's  "  were  not  of  as  much  consequence  as  one 
might  suppose. 

"  Look  here,  Caleb,  if  you  have  such  an  antip- 
athy to  a  whipping,  why  in  the  name  of  common 
sense  don't  you  behave  ?" 

Caleb  dug  his  bare  toes  into  a  crack  on  the  steps. 

"  I  don't  keer  whedder  I  'haves  or  not.  Mammy 
alius  licks  me  fur  eberyting,  so  she  does." 

"  Well,  you  see,  Caleb,  you  have  been  so  bad 
that  appearances  are  against  you.  You  are  usually 
whipped  on  circumstantial  evidence." 

The  little  black  face  looked  puzzled. 

"  Well,  it  hu'ts  de  same  wharebber  she  licks  me." 

Jack  threw  back  his  head  and  laughed  merrily. 

"  You  are  *  one  by  yourself,'  Caleb,  that's  certain. 
But  come,"  he  added,  rising  and  tossing  away  his 
cigar.  "  Don't  cry  any  more,  and  I'll  let  you  go 
over  to  Bellevue  with  me." 

Caleb's  sobs  were  hushed  instantly,  for  Jack  was 
his  idol,  and  he  followed  him  all  around  the  old  plan- 
tation like  a  little  dog.  He  was  allowed  more  lib- 
erty than  was  usually  given  to  the  servants  at  Wood- 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  19 

burn,  although  Jack  was  a  pleasant-tempered,  easy- 
going master  at  most  times.  Caleb  was  the  only- 
child  about  the  plantation,  and  Mar's  Jack's  espe- 
cial protege,  and  Mrs.  Templeton  declared  that,  were 
it  not  for  Aunt  Dinah's  timely  "  dressin's,"  the 
child  would  be  positively  unbearable.  But  these 
afore-mentioned  dressin's  had  but  a  temporary  effect 
upon  this  little  personification  of  mischief,  and  his 
master  was,  in  reality,  the  only  person  whom  he 
obeyed.  He  worshiped  Mar's  Jack  with  a  blind 
adoration,  and  was  perfectly  happy  when  at  his 
side. 

So,  on  this  day  in  question,  when  his  master 
proposed  taking  him  to  one  of  the  neighboring 
homesteads,  he  sprang  up  from  the  step  and  com- 
menced to  dance  a  jig,  forgetting  that  he  had  ever 
had  a  sorrow  in  all  his  life,  much  less  a  whipping, 
but  one  short  hour  ago.  Jack's  horse  and  buggy 
were  soon  ready,  and  away  rode  Mar's  Jack  with  his 
little  black  shadow  beside  him. 


20  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 


CHAPTER   II. 

"  There  has  fallen  a  splendid  tear 
From  the  passion  flower  at  the  gate; 
She  Is  coming,  my  dove,  my  dear, 
She  is  coming,  my  life,  my  fate." 

/""i  ALEB  had  been  perched  upon  the  gate-post  the 
^-^  whole  afternoon  in  order  to  get  the  first 
glimpse  of  the  carriage  as  it  rolled  down  the  avenue. 
Miss  Lee  had  been  expected  in  the  morning,  but  when 
Mrs.  Templeton  had  returned  from  the  station 
alone,  her  arrival  was  given  up  for  that  day,  at  least, 
by  every  one  but  Caleb. 

He  declared  he  knew  that  she  would  come,  and 
startled  Mar's  Jack  a  dozen  of  times  by  exclaiming, 
"  Heah  it  comes,  Mar's  Jack ;  heah's  de  station  ker- 
ridge,"  until,  disgusted  with  so  many  false  alarms, 
Jack  ensconced  himself  in  an  easy  chair  on  the  shady 
side  of  the  veranda,  and  placing  his  feet  upon  a  level 
with  his  head,  with  more  regard  to  comfort  than  to 
appearance,  fell  into  his  old  habit  of  day  dream- 
ing. He  did  not  intend  to  sleep.  O,  no !  Just 
wanted  to  think  a  little.  But  thinking  and  napping 
are  very  closely  allied  on  a  warm  Summer  afternoon, 


CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  21 

and  Jack  was  soon  wandering  in  the  pleasant  paths 
of  dreamland. 

There  were  green  fields,  rippling  brooks,  beauti- 
ful flowers,  sweet,  low  music,  lovely  laughing  faces 
— until  all  seemed  to  vanish  before  one  slender 
form,  and  a  pretty,  girlish  face, — a  bright  vision  that 
led  him  on  and  on — now  near — now  far  away. 

"  Mar's  Jack,"  said  a  voice  at  his  elbow,  "  wake 
up !     Miss  Katie's  done  come.' 

Jack  rubbed  his  eyes  sleepily. 

"  Eh  !  What's  up,  Caleb  ?" 

"  O,  I  beg  your  pardon."  This  to  the  pretty  girl 
in  gray  who  stood  looking  at  him  with  a  comical  ex- 
pression of  face. 

Caleb  instituted  himself  master  of  ceremonies. 
"  Mar's  Jack,  heah's  Miss  Katie." 

Jack  rubbed  his  eyes  as  if  to  recall  himself  to 
this  world,  and  then  sprang  to  his  feet,  looking  very 
sheepish. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Miss — Miss  Lee — I  didn't 
know  you  were  here ;  at  least  I  was  rather  unpre- 
pared to  see  you  at  present.  I  had  forgotten  where 
I  was  ;  I  was  thinking  so  busily." 

The  blue  eyes  twinkled.  "  Rather  a  novel  way 
of  thinking,  is  it  not  ?"  was  asked,  slyly 


22  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Jack  was  becoming  unpleasantly  conscious  of 
the  fact  that  perhaps  he  had  been  asleep. 

"  May  be  I  indulged  in  a  little  doze,"  he  admit- 
ted reluctantly 

Again  the  blue  eyes  twinkled.  They  were  very 
saucy  eyes — and  Jack  was  becoming  unpleasantly 
conscious  of  the  fact,  that  perhaps  he  had — snored. 

No  !  He  would  not  permit  himself  to  be  so  hu- 
miliated.    The  subject  must  be  changed. 

Jack  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height  and  said, 
extending  his  hand,  with  rather  an  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt to  appear  self-possessed,  "  I  suppose  I  may  say 
welcome  to  Woodburn,  Miss  Lee  ?" 

A  soft,  dimpled  hand  was  laid  in  his  brown  one. 
"  Certainly,  although  your  first  appearance  did  not 
indicate  a  welcome,"  she  said,  laughingly. 

"  First  appearances  are  not  always  truthful 
ones,"  Jack  answered,  looking  into  the  bright  face. 

"  Like  mother,  like  daughter,  holds  good  in  this 
case,  certainly,"  he  added,  mentally.  "She  little 
knows  I  have  her  exact  counterpart  in  my  vest 
pocket." 

It  was  a  very  pretty  face  that  Jack  looked  upon, 
—  not  beautiful,  perhaps,  but  saucy,  piquant,  ex- 
pressive.    It  was  a  very  pretty  figure,  too,  clothed 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  23 

in  soft  gray  cashmere.  Katie  was  pretty,  and  Jack 
was  content. 

"  Have  you  seen  mother  ?"  he  asked,  after  a 
pause. 

"  No,  sir,  I  have  seen  no  one  but  yourself  and 
this  little  fellow,"  pointing  to  Caleb. 

"You  see  the  rickety  station  vehicle  fell  to 
pieces  at  the  end  of  the  road,  and  I  had  a  dreadful 
time  getting  together  innumerable  boxes  and 
bundles.  Indeed,  I  do  not  know  how  I  should  ever 
have  arrived  here  if  Caleb  had  not  relieved  me  of 
part  of  my  load ;  and  according,  to  him,  nothing 
would  do  when  we  reached  the  house  but  for  me  to 
see  i  Mar's  Jack.'  So  depositing  my  bundles  on  the 
steps,  I  came  around  here.  My  things  are  on  the 
front  steps  in  '  confusion  worse  confounded.'  I  do 
not  know  how  I  ever  can  get  them  into  the  house," 
with  a  pretty  gesture  of  despair. 

"  That's  too  bad,"  said  Jack,  looking  very  an- 
noyed. "  I  am  so  sorry  this  should  have  happened. 
We  expected  you  this  morning,  and  mother  drove 
over  to  the  station  for  you,  so  that  is  the  reason 
there  was  no  one  to  meet  you  this  afternoon.  But 
come,  and  I  will  introduce  you  to  mother.  Regrets 
are  useless  now." 

Mrs.  Templeton  met  them  at  the  door. 


24  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

She  started  at  the  sight  of  the  girlish  figure  and 
the  tears  gathered  in  her  eyes. 

"  You  are  very  like  your  mother,  dear,"  she  said 
gently,  stooping  to  kiss  the  soft  cheek 

The  blue  eyes  grew  thoughtful. 

"So  papa  says.  But  I  do  not  know ;  I  have  been 
motherless  all  my  life,  you  know,"  looking  up  wist- 
fully. 

Jack  looked  at  his  mother  reproachfully.  Why 
did  she  not  cover  the  upturned  face  with  kisses. 
He  was  sure  he  would  have  done  so,  had  he  been  in 
her  place. 

People  never  do  appreciate  their  blessings. 

"  How  did  I  miss  you,  child,"  asked  Mrs.  Tern- 
pleton.  "  I  went  over  this  morning  after  you.  Did 
you  miss  connection  in  changing  cars  ?" 

"  Yes,  ma'am.  And  I  had  a  dreadful  time," 
laughed  Katie,  proceeding  forthwith  to  relate  hex 
grievances. 

"I  am  ever  so  sorry,"  began  Mrs.  Templeton, 
but  Jack  laughingly  interrupted. 

"  Do  not  apologize,  mother,  I  have  wearied  Miss 
Katie  enough  already." 

"  Well,  I  will  show  her  to  her  room,  for  I  know 
she  is  tired.  Tell  Pompey  to  bring  up  her  satchel 
and  boxes." 


CALEB,  THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  25 

After  Katie  had  been  duly  deposited  in  the  blue 
room,  Jack  went  out  to  find  Caleb. 

"  Look  here,  young  man,"  he  said,  taking  him  by 
the  ear  and  walking  him  off  to  a  secluded  corner  of 
the  veranda,  "  I  want  to  ask  you  a  few  questions. 
If  you  don't  tell  me  the  truth  I'll  skin  you  alive,  sir, 
do  you  hear?" 

"  Yes,  sah ! "  answered  Caleb,  with  alacrity.  Such 
a  fate  was  not  to  be  met  with  calmness.  "  I  'clar' 
foah  gracious  I'll  tell  you  de  truf." 

"  Well,  say  this  after  me,"  Jack  frowned  sol- 
emnly. 

"I— Caleb." 

"  I,  Cabe." 

"  Swear  to  tell  Mar's  Jack  the  truth." 

"  Sw'ar  ter  tell  Mar's  Jack  de  trufe." 

"  The  whole  truth." 

"  De  whole  trufe." 

"  And  nothing  but  the  truth." 

"  An'  nuffin'  but  de  trufe." 

44  There  now,"  said  Jack,  solemnly,  "  you  are 
under  oath,  and  woe  to  you  if  you  prevaricate. 
Look  me  in  the  eyes,  sir.  Was  I  asleep  this  after- 
noon when  you  brought  Miss  Katie  around  on  the 
veranda  ?  " 

'*  Yes,  sah  1  'deed  you  war  fas'  'sleep." 


26  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Very  good,  or  very  bad,  rather.  Look  me  in 
the  eyes  again  and  beware — Did  I — mind — now — 
did  I  snore  ?  " 

"I  'clar'  foah  gracious  you  did.  You  opened  yo' 
mouf  jes'  so,"  and  Caleb  opened  his  mouth  to  the 
fullest  extent  and  made  numerous  nasal  sounds  imi- 
tative of  snoring." 

"  I  must  have  presented  a  very  enchanting 
appearance,"  said  Jack,  ironically,  half  amused  and 
half  annoyed. 

"  What  did  the  young  lady  do  ?  " 

"  Does  you  mean  Miss  Katie  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Well,  why  she  jes'  frowed  back  her  head  and 
laffed  awful  hard.  She  stuff  her  hank'fish  in  her 
mouf  ter  keep  from  laffm'  so  she  did." 

"  Oh  !  she  did,  did  she  ?  " 

"  Deed  she  did.  An'  I  war  awful  mad  at  her 
'cause  she  laffed  at  you,  deed  I  war,  Mar's  Jack." 

"  Why  in  the  name  of  common  sense  did  you 
bring  her  around  there  ? "  and  Jack  shook  Caleb 
fiercely. 

Caleb  whimpered  "  I  nebber  meaned  no  harm.  I 
telled  her  you'se  mos'  dead  ter  see  her  an' " 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  another  shake. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  27 

"  You  telled  me  ter  tole  yer  de  trufe  an'  den  yer 
mos1  shakes  my  head  off  fur  it,"  Caleb  whimpered. 

"  Well,  never  mind.  I  do  not  desire  to  have  any 
more  conceit  taken  from  me.  Cease,  I  implore, 
your  harrowing  tale,  lest  I  curse  the  hour  that  gave 
me  birth !  "  said  Jack,  tragically,  and  Caleb,  seeing 
that  Jack  was  not  displeased,  put  his  hands  into  his 
pockets  and  began  to  whistle. 

A  pretty  picture,  framed  by  the  open  doorway, 
met  Jack's  view  as  he  strolled  leisurely  up  the 
walk. 

Katie  was  arrayed  in  soft,  fluffy  white,  while  a 
pearl  comb  fastened  the  coil  of  dun  brown  hair. 

"  Sweets  to  the  sweet ! "  said  Jack,  gallantly, 
clipping  some  crimson  roses  from  the  bush. 

"O,  thank  you!  How  lovely!"  blushing  rosily 
as  she  fastened  them  at  her  throat. 

"  Very  lovely !  "  echoed  Jack,  looking  at  the 
roses  in  her  cheek. 

"  Do  you  know  I  think  everything  is  lovely 
here,"  said  Katie,  after  a  pause,  taking  a  general 
survey. 

"  Ahem  !  Thank  you  !  Everything,  I  suppose, 
includes  yours  truly?  " 

Katie  tossed  her  head  and  looked  at  him  saucily. 


28  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Not  necessarily.  I  haven't  formed  any  opinion 
of  you  as  yet.  You  do  not  look  exactly  lovely  when 
you  are  asleep,  for  instance. 

Jack  held  up  his  hand  deprecatingly. 

"  Don't !  please  don't.  Am  I  never  to  hear  the 
last  of  that  unfortunate  nap,  Miss  Lee  ?  " 

Katie  laughed.  "  Well,  I  won't  tease  you  any 
more.  But,  changing  the  subject,  will  you  do  me  a 
favor,  Mr.  Templeton  ?" 

"  With  pleasure,  provided  you  return  the  obliga- 
tion.    Please  do  not  call  me  Mr.  Templeton." 

"  What  shall  I  call  you  ?" 

"  He's  Mar's  Jack,"  said  Caleb,  who  was  out  on 
the  lawn,  lying  on  his  stomach,  with  his  heels  in 
the  air. 

"  Silence,  young  man,"  said  Jack,  frowning  ma- 
jestically upon  him.     "  Who  told  you  to  interfere  ?" 

"  Well,  you  is  Mar's  Jack  an'  nuffin  else,"  per- 
sisted Caleb. 

"Shall  I  call  you  Mar's  Jack?"  asked  Katie, 
laughing. 

"  Call  me  '  Jack,'  without  the  prefix. 

"  You'd  better  say  Mar's  Jack,  les'  you  wants  a 
lickin',"  put  in  Caleb,  rolling  over  on  his  back  and 
grinning  at  Katie.  "  Dat's  what  I  gets  ef  I'se'  perti- 
nent,— 'deed  I  do." 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  29 

Jack  started  down  the  steps,  but  Caleb  was  over 
the  fence  in  a  very  short  space  of  time,  and  stood 
grinning  through  the  rails. 

"  I  will  take  Caleb's  advice  and  call  you  Mar's 
Jack,"  said  Katie,  laughingly. 

"  Now  for  your  favor,"  said  Jack,  coming  back 
and  standing  beside  her. 

"  Let  me  see.  O  yes — Mr.  Tem — I  mean  Mar's 
Jack,  won't  you  please  come  into  the  hall  and  tell 
me  about  the  old  portraits?  They  are  too  gloriously 
ancient  for  anything." 

Jack  put  his  hand  up  to  his  forehead  medita- 
tively. 

"Too  gloriously  ancient,"  he  repeated  slowly. 
"  That  is  an  expressive  term." 

Katie  blushed.  "  I  think  you  are  too  mean  for 
anything  to  make  fun  of  my  enthusiastic  expressions. 
But  you  see,"  she  added,  seriously,  "  I  fell  into  that 
way  of  talking  at  school,  and  it  is  just  awfully,  I 
mean,  very,  very  hard  to  remember  that  I  am  no 
longer  a  school  girl,  but  a  lady  of  leisure." 

Jack  looked  amused. 

"  Don't  take  it  so  seriously,  Miss  Katie ;  I  only 
wanted  to  pay  you  back  a  little  of  your  own  coin." 

Katie  held  out  her  hand.  "  Let  us  bury  the 
hatchet.     If  you  will  promise  never  to  make  fun  of 


30  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

my  energetic  expressions,  I  will  never,  never  tease 
you  about  that  snore.     Is  it  a  bargain?" 

"  Agreed,"  answered  Jack,  bestowing  a  much 
greater  pressure  npon  the  soft  hand  than  occasion 
demanded. 

Brown  eyes  looked  into  blue  eyes,  and  Jack's 
doom  was  sealed. 

"  Come,  fulfil  your  promise,"  said  Katie,  after  a 
moment's  pause,  turning  to  go  into  the  hall. 

"  At  your  service,  mademoiselle,"  answered 
Jack,  following.     "  Where  shall  I  begin  ?" 

"  Who  is  this  fierce-looking  old  gentleman  with 
the  powdered  wig,  knee  pants  and  velvet  coat  ?" 

"  That  is  the  honorable,  my  great,  great  grand- 
father.    Ugly  old  customer,  isn't  he  ?" 

"  I  should  say  so.  Looks  as  fierce  and  ugly  as 
can  be.  Do  you  know,"  said  Katie,  stepping  back 
and  eyeing  the  old  portrait  critically,  "  I  think  he 
looks  like  you." 

Jack  subsided. 

"  Fierce  and  ugly  and  looks  like  me.  You  are 
very  complimentary,  Miss  Lee." 

Katie  laughed  merrily. 

"  O,  well,  I  did  not  mean  that,  you  know.  But 
I  think  there  is  a  family  resemblance.  Who  is  that 
lovely  lady  next  to  him  ?" 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  31 

"  That  is  Aunt  Ruth  Templeton,  my  father's 
sister.  Handsome,  isn't  she  ?  She  had  a  very  ro- 
mantic life,  so  I've  heard." 

"Did  she!  O,  do  tell  me  about  it.  Won't 
you?" 

Jack  thrust  his  hands  into  his  pockets  as  though 
that  were  any  aid  in  story-telling,  and  oegan. 

"  Well,  she  was  a  great  belle,  in  her  day,  I  be- 
lieve. Had  lots  of  beaux  and  all  that  sort  of  thing, 
you  know.  She  was  engaged  to  a  Mr.  Ashely,  a 
young  fellow  from  the  North,  somewhere.  But  the 
course  of  true  love  did  not  run  at  all  smoothly,  and 
she  jilted  him,  expecting  him  to  return  to  her.  But 
she  reckoned  without  her  host  that  time,  for  he  was 
as  proud  as  Lucifer.  One  night,  at  a  large  party, 
he  was  asked  to  sing,  and  he  sang,  apparently  for 
the  company,  but  she  knew  that  it  was  intended  for 
her,  and  she  knew  that  he  would  never  come  back 
to  her  again.  It  was  quite  a  pretty  little  song. 
Shall  I  repeat  it  ?" 

Katie  put  her  head  upon  one  side. 

"  Why  won't  you  sing  it?" 

"  Modesty  prevented  my  offering  to  sing  it  for 
Miss  Lee.  Or,  rather,  more  truthfully  speaking,  a 
fear  that  she  might  not  remain  after  the  first  verse, 
if  I  should  attempt  to  sing." 


32  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  0,  I  am  a  lenient  critic  !     So  do  not  be  afraid. 
Sing  for  me,  won't  you,  please  ?" 
And  Jack,  bowing,  complied. 

I  lov'd  a  lass,  a  fair  one, 
As  fair  as  e'er  was  seen  ; 
She  was  indeed  a  rare  one, 
Another  Sheba  Queen. 
But,  fool  as  then  I  was, 
I  thought  she  lov'd  me  too, 
But  now,  alas,  she's  left  me, 
Falero  lero  loo. 

"  To  maidens'  vows  and  swearing 
Henceforth  no  credit  give  ; 
You  may  give  them  the  hearing, 
But  never  them  believe, 
They  are  as  false  as  fair, 
Unconstant,  frail,  untrue, 
For  mine,  alas,  hath  left  me, 
Falero  lero  loo." 

"  Thank  you.  A  very  pretty  song,  but  the  sen- 
timent is  false,"  looking  up  archly.  "  Maidens  can  be 
true,  despite  your  poet.  I  don't  think  that  was  a  bit 
romantic  but  very  silly — don't  you  ?  She  should 
not  have  broken  off  the  engagement  in  the  first 
place,  and  he  should  have  sought  a  renewal  in  the 
second  place.  Why,  if  I  were  a  man,"  said  Katie, 
waxing  vehement,  "and  loved  a  woman  dearly,  I 
would  stand  a  great  many  rebuffs  in  order  to  make 
her  mine.     G[yue  love  conquers  all  things." 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  33 

Jack  laughed. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  were  not  there  or  you  might 
have  straightened  out  matters  for  them.  But 
marrying  the  one  you  love  does  not  always 
make  one  happy.  You  see  that  handsome,  spicy- 
looking  old  lady  in  the  black  satin  gown  and 
lace  neckerchief.  Well,  her  husband  was  desperately 
in  love  with  her,  and  married  her.  But  many's  the 
time  the  poor  fellow  wished  that  she  had  jilted  him 
before  their  marriage,  for  she  was  well  versed  in  the 
use  of  that  unruly  member,  the  tongue,  and  led  the 
poor  simpleton  a  hard  life  of  it." 

"  What  a  very  handsome  face  this  is,"  said 
Katie,  stopping  in  front  of  a  portrait  at  the  end 
of  the  hall. 

"  That  is  my  father,"  answered  Jack,  lowering 
his  voice.  "  He  was  killed  by  a  fall  from  his  horse 
about  five  years  ago.  It  was  a  terrible  blow  to  us, 
and  one  from  which  mother,  I  fear,  will  never  re- 
cover. She  is  greatly  changed  from  her  old,  bright 
self.  But  I  weary  you,"  he  added,  quickly.  "  I 
forget  the  subject  is  only  of  interest  to  me. 

"  There,"  changing  his  tone,  "  do  you  see  that 
portrait  opposite ;  that  lady's  wedding  was  the  first 
I  ever  attended.  The  ceremony  was  performed  in 
an  old   Episcopalian   Church.      I  will  tell  you  all 


84  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

about  it  sometime.  By  the  way,  we  must  visit  the 
old  church  some  day.  You  like  to  hear  romantic 
stories,  and  there  are  plenty  of  them  connected  with 
the  old  building.  But  I  have  chatted  enough. 
There  is  the  tea  bell." 

"  And  I  am  ever  so  glad  to  hear  it,  for  I  am  as 
hungry  as  a  bear,  if  you  will  excuse  my  saying  so," 
laughed  Katie,  taking  Jack's  proffered  arm. 


CALEB,   THE   IliltEPiiESSlBLE.  35 


CHAPTER    III. 


"Tying  her  bonnet  under  her  chin 
She  tied  her  raven  ringlets  In, 
.But  not  alone  in  the  silken  snare 
Did  she  catch  her  lovely  floating  hair, 
For  tying  her  bonnet  under  her  chin, 
She  tied  a  young  man's  heart  within. " 


"TTT"-HAT  a  pretty  room  this  is,"  thought  Katie, 
*  as  she  stood  combing  her  wavy  dark  hair  be- 
fore the  mirror  the  next  morning.  "Everything  is 
a  delicate  blue — carpet,  curtains,  and  toilet,  set.  It 
just  suits  me,"  glancing  involuntarily  at  the  lovely 
face  reflected  in  the  mirror.  "It  looks  so  delight- 
fully old-fashioned.  Very  refreshing  after  the  stiff- 
ness and  formality  to  which  I  have  been  accustomed 
at  school." 

And  it  was  a  pretty  room  with  its  four-post  cur- 
tained bedstead,  easy  chairs,  open  fireplace,  and 
bright  brass  andirons,  decorated  now  in  the  Summer, 
with  fancy  blue  paper  and  peacock  feather  fans. 
Above  the  mantel  was  another  portrait  of  Ruth 
Templeton,  and  Katie  gazed  at  it  to  her  heart's  con- 
tent. The  face  had  a  strange  fascination  for  her.  The 


36  CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

dark  eyes  and  sweet,  sad  mouth  seemed  to  tell  of 
some  hidden  grief,  but  a  grief  borne  alone,  for  there 
was  a  certain  pride  in  the  sweep  of  the  tall,  graceful 
figure,  and  in  the  poise  of  the  shapely  head.  This 
had  been  her  room  Katie  knew,  for,  "  Ruth  Temple- 
ton,  A.  D.  18 — ,"  was  embroidered  on  the  table- 
cover,  and  several  books  were  on  the  table,  which 
were  marked  with  her  name.  A  small  volume  of 
poems,  with  numerous  beautiful  passages  marked 
and  re-marked,  Katie  noticed  in  particular.  "  To 
Ruth  from  Hugh,"  was  on  the  title  page. 

"  I  suppose  that  '  Hugh '  was  the  lover  of  whom 
Mar's  Jack  told  me,"  mused  Katie,  turning  over  the 
leaves  of  the  book  as  she  stood  awaiting  the  sum- 
mons to  breakfast.     "  Strange  how  little  one  knows 

Come  in,"  she  added  aloud,  in  answer  to  a  rap 

on  the  door,  which  opened  without  further  cere- 
mony, and  a  curly  black  head  was  thrust  in. 

"  I  ain't  'lowed  ter  come  in,  heah ;  but  Miss 
Katie,  de  breakfus'  bell's  done  rung." 

"  Very  well,  I  will  go  down  in  a  moment  or  two," 
answered  Katie,  taking  an  extra  peep  into  the  mirror 
to  see  that  the  bewitching  little  curls  about  her  fore- 
head were  all  in  captivating  order. 

Caleb  edged  a  little  further  into  the  room. 

"  Nobody  telled   me  to  corned  up  heah,   but  I 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  37 

fought  mebbe  dat  you  couldn't  heah  the  bell  or  sum- 
fin  "  ^inventing  a  story  for  the  occasion). 

Katie  looked  amused.  It  was  a  comical  little 
face  that  looked  into  hers,  with  its  big,  bright,  mis- 
chievous eyes  and  wide  grinning  mouth,  disclosing 
two  rows  of  such  pearly  white  teeth  as  any  society 
belle  might  envy.  Caleb  stood  rubbing  one  leg 
up  and  down  the  other  some  time  before  he  ventured 
to  speak  again. 

"Say,"  he  said  at  last,  "you'se  a  gwine  ter  stay 
in  dis  house  all  de  time  now,  ain't  you?"  - 

"  I  think  so ! "  answered  Katie,  with  a  smile. 
"  Does  the  idea  frighten  you  very  much  ?  " 

Caleb  shook  his  head.  "  'Deed  no,  it  don't,  den. 
Say,  you'se  dretful  pretty,  ain't  yer?"  he  added, 
grinning  with  all  his  might. 

"  I  don't  know,"  laughed  Katie,  "  ami?" 

"  'Deed  you  is.  You'se  mos'  as  pretty  as  Mar's 
Jack's  gurl." 

Katie  was  on  the  defensive  directly.  A  rival  was 
something  distasteful  in  the  extreme. 

"  Mar's  Jack's  girl.     Who  is  she  ?  " 

"  Why,  dat  one  he  carries  de  pictur'  of  in  his 
pocket.  He  lubs  dat  pictur',  he  do.  I  seed  him 
look  at  it  and  kiss  it  mos'  a  hunnerd  times  a  day." 

Katie's  lip  curled  slightly. 


38  CALEB,    THE   IltJiEPJRESSIBLE. 

"  He  must  be  very  sentimentally  inclined." 

Then  a  bright  thought  came  into  the  brown  head. 

"  This  little  chap  has  sharp  eyes.  I  will  give  him 
something  to  tell  his  beloved  Mar's  Jack,"  and 
Katie  readied  for  a  bundle  of  letters  from  her 
trunk.  She  took  a  picture  from  one  of  them,  gazing 
at  it  longingly  and  pressing  it  several  times  to  her 
lips. 

Caleb  watched  her  closely. 

"  You  seems  ter  lub  dat  pictur'  awful  much,"  he 
said,  grinning  until  every  pearly  tooth  in  his  head 
was  visible. 

Katie  sighed.  "  It  is  the  likeness  of  a  very  dear 
friend  of  mine,"  she  said,  softly,  "one  who  is  all 
the  world  to  me." 

" Lemme  see  dat  pictur',  won't  you,  Miss  Katie?  " 

This  was  rather  an  unexpected  request.  Even 
Caleb  would  know  that  gray  hair  and  a  gray  beard 
did  not  belong  to  Katie's  lover. 

So  she  prudently  put  the  picture  away. 

"  No,  Caleb,  not  now.  I  must  go  down  to  break- 
fast. Here,"  tossing  him  a  paper  of  candy,  "  per- 
haps you  have  a  sweet  tooth." 

"  Does  you  know,"  said  Caleb,  standing  with 
arms  akimbo  and  feet  wide  apart,  "  after  'siderin' 
matters  I  finks  I'se  gwine  ter  like  you  berry  much." 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE,  39 

"I  am  delighted  to  hear  you  say  so,"  laughed 
Katie,  "  and  I  think  I  can  return  the  compliment. 
But  there  is  the  second  bell.  I  must  go  down-stairs 
now." 

Caleb  seized  her  dress  as  she  opened  the  door. 

"  Miss  Katie,  I — I  likes  you.  Don'  you  tell  no- 
body I  war  up  in  yo'  room.  'Ka'se  I'll  get  a  wallop- 
in'  ef  you  do.     Is  anybody  'roun'  heah  ?  " 

"No!"  answered  Katie,  looking  up  and  down 
the  hall.     "  All's  quiet.     The  coast  is  clear." 

And  Caleb  scampered  down  the  long  corridor  and 
disappeared  through  one  of  the  numerous  door- 
ways. 

"  Well,  what  is  the  programme  for  to-day,  Miss 
Katie  ?  "  asked  Jack,  after  breakfast  that  morning, 
putting  down  his  coffee  cup  and  wiping  his  mus- 
tache. ' 

"  That  question  should  be  asked  by  Katie,  I 
think,  as  you  are  the  host,"  said  Mrs.  Templeton, 
smiling  across  the  table  at  the  son  to  whom  she  was 
so  devoted. 

"  Changing  my  question  to  suit  my  mother's 
sense  of  propriety,  what  would  you  like  to  do,  Miss 
Lee  ?     I  am  at  your  service." 

"  Am  I  to  decide  ? "  asked  Katie,  looking  up  at 
him  from  under  the  dark  lashes. 


40  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Most  assuredly ! "  wishing  that  she  would 
always  look  at  him  in  that  way. 

"Well,  I  should  like  ever  and  ever  so  much  to  go 
on  a  tour  of  exploration  all  around  Woodburn." 

"  Agreed !  "  answered  Jack,  rising  from  the  table, 
"  put  on  a  big  sun  hat  and  some  heavy  shoes,  and 
we  will  start  on  a  grand  exploring  expedition.  I 
do  not  think  we  shall  discover  anything  that  will 
immortalize  our  names,  however." 

An  hour  afterwards  the  exploring  party,  consist- 
ing of  Jack  (looking  cool  and  serene  in  his  linen 
coat  and  straw  hat),  shouldering  two  fishing  rods ; 
Katie,  with  a  large  sun  hat  tied  under  her  dimpled 
chin  (she  carried  nothing  but  her  own  sweet  self)  ; 
and  Caleb,  with  a  huge  lunch  basket  in  tow,  started 
for  the  river,  after  viewing  every  place  of  interest 
on  the  grounds. 

"  Does  all  this  land  belong  to  you,  Mar's  Jack  ?  " 
asked  Katie,  looking  about  her,  wholly  innocent  of 
any  motive  in  her  question. 

"  No,  not  now.  We  own  the  house  and  the  im- 
mediate grounds,  nothing  more.  Mother  sold  the 
rest  after  father's  death,  as  well  as  all  the  slaves, 
except  the  house  servants.  You  may  have  noticed 
how  few  we  have.  Aunt  Dinah  and  Caleb  are  free. 
Pompey  bought  their  freedom  and  father  gave  his 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  41 

to  him,  but  they  all  three  remain  with  us.  Caleb,  I 
don't  think  would  leave  me  even  if  I  were  to  drive 
him  away.     Would  you,  Cabe?" 

"  'Deed,  an'  I  wouldn't,  den,"  answered  the  little 
fellow,  looking  up  with  shining  eyes. 

"  What  queer  little  house  is  this  at  the  end  >f 
the  avenue,  Mar's  Jack  ?  I  noticed  it  the  first  day 
I  came,  and  wondered  to  whom  it  belonged." 

Jack  laughed. 

"  That  is  the  residence  of  Miss  Tessy  Hepsworth. 
She  is  a  comical  genius,  I  can  tell  you  ;  rides  all 
over  the  country  in  a  donkey  cart,  with  her  knitting 
and  tracts.  She  knits  and  distributes  tracts,  while 
the  donkey  walks  at  about  the  rate  of  a  mile  a  daj'-. 
Indeed,  if  we  see  Miss  Tessy  coming  down  the  ave- 
nue, we  know  that  she  will  arrive  at  about  the  end 
of  the  following  week.  But  let 's  stop  a  moment, 
and  I  will  introduce  you  to  '  Tessy,  the  peculiar,'  " 
added  Jack,  rapping  at  the  door,  which  was  opened 
slowly  by  an  odd -looking  little  body,  who  stood 
staring  at  them  in  a  quizzical  way. 

"  Good  morning,  Miss  Tessy,"  said  Jack,  lifting 
his  hat.     "  Fine  day,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  answered  Miss  Tessy,  laughing 
and  shaking  her  cork-screw  curls  as  though  Jack 

2* 


42  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

had  said  something  peculiarly  amusing ;  "  yes,  in- 
deed." 

"  I  have  brought  a  visitor  to  see  you,  Miss  Tessy," 
introducing  Katie. 

Miss  Tessy  laughed  again. 

"  Well,  now,  that  was  good  of  you,  to  be  sure. 
Come  in,  won't  you  ?  "  she  said  to  Jack  and  Katie, 
for  Caleb  was  already  in  the  room  and  seated  on  a 
chair.  Miss  Tessy  and  her  home  were  things  with 
which  he  was  perfectly  familiar,  and  he  often  regaled 
himself  with  a  chase  after  her  hens.  It  was  a  very 
queer  little  room,  with  its  old-fashioned  curtains 
and  furniture,  which  Jack  declared  were  bequeathed 
to  Miss  Tessy  by  Noah,  and  it  was  a  queer  little 
hostess  who  bustled  about,  placing  chairs  for  her 
guests. 

"  You  must  excuse  my  seating  you  in  the  kitch- 
en, my  dear,"  she  said,  nodding  her  head  at  Katie ;  - 
"but  as  the  kitchen's  the  bedroom,  and  the  bed- 
room 's  the  parlor,  why,  it  follows  that  the  kitchen 's 
the  parlor.  That 's  logic  for  you,  Mr.  Jack.  In 
short,  my  dear,  this  is  the  only  room  I  have." 

"  It  is  a  very  pleasant  one,  I  am  sure,"  answered 
Katie,  sweetly. 

Miss  Tessy  nodded. 

"  Oh,  yes ;  it 's  well  enough,  but  not  what  I  've 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  43 

been  used  to,  dear.  Now,  when  I  was  a  girl"  — 
Katie  thought  Miss  Tessy  must  have  an  excellent 
memory  —  "  Now,  when  I  was  a  girl,"  she  repeated 
slowly,  "it  was  very,  very  different — wealth,  serv- 
ants, beaux  —  yes,  dear,"  laughing  and  looking  coy, 
"  real  handsome  beaux,  like  Mr.  Jack ;  but  times 
have  changed.  I  have  none  of  these  things  now, 
dear." 

Katie  was  not  at  all  astonished  at  the  lack  of 
beaux. 

"  Where,  oh,  where  are  the  beaux  of  her  youth  ?" 
queried  Jack,  in  an  undertone,  for  Miss  Tessy  was 
very  deaf. 

"  Now,  may  be  you  would  not  think  it,  dear," 
she  said,  all  unconscious  of  Jack's  remark,  "  but  I 
was  a  beauty  once — a  real  beauty,"  nodding  her 
head  several  times,  and  laughing  immoderately. 

"  Time  worketh  great  changes,"  said  Jack,  sol- 
emnly, in  the  same  undertone. 

"  Miss  Tessy,"  he  added  aloud,  putting  his  head 
close  to  her  ear,  "  you  have  not  changed  much  since 
your  youthful  days." 

"La,  now,  Mr.  Templeton,"  laughing  and  look- 
ing very  pleased,  "  you  don't  mean  it !  I  must  get 
you  some  corn-bread,"  rising  and  going  to  the  cup- 
board. 


44  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Don't  refuse  ;  she  will  be  offended,"  whispered 
Jack  to  Katie,  as  Miss  Tessy  handed  around  her  one 
article  of  entertainment. 

Jack  and  Caleb  slipped  their  pieces  into  their 
pockets,  but  inexperienced  Katie  took  one  bite,  and 
that  bite  was  sufficient,  for,  either  as  a  matter  of 
economy,  or  as  a  matter  of  taste,  salt  was  unknown 
in  Miss  Tessy's  corn-bread. 

"  Well,  Miss  Tessy,"  said  Jack,  rising  at  last, 
"  we  must  take  our  departure.  Come  up  to  Wood- 
burn,  and  see  Miss  Lee  quite  often,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  thank  jtou  ;  yes,  indeed,"  and  Miss  Tessy 
bobbed  her  head  vigorously  as  the  exploring  party 
moved  away. 

"  What  a  queer  little  woman,"  said  Katie,  draw- 
ing a  long  breath. 

Jack  laughed  merrily. 

"  O  Miss  Katie,  that  corn-bread  !  "  he  said,  draw- 
ing his  piece  from  his  pocket,  and  tossing  it  away. 

Katie  made  a  wry  face. 

"  Was  n't  it  perfectly  horrid  ?  I  think  you  were 
too  mean  for  anything,  to  let  me  eat  it.  It  makes 
me  faint  even  to  think  of  that  one  bite." 

Jack's  eyes  twinkled. 

"  I  wanted  you  to  taste  some  of  our  real  old- 
fashioned   Virginia   corn-bread,"  he  said,  jokingly. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  45 

"  Well,  to  pay  up  for  this,  I  will  get  Aunt  Dinah  to 
make  you  some  corn-bread,  and  if  you  do  not  say  it 
is  the  best  thing  you  ever  masticated,  I  am  no  judge, 
that  is  all." 

"  Miss  Tessy  is  such  a  queer  little  woman,  and  she 
talked  so  funnily  about  her  beauty  and  her  beaux, 
as  handsome  as  you  are,  Mar's  Jack. 

"I  wonder,"  and  Katie  glanced  up  slyly,  "I 
wonder  if  Miss  Tessy  ever  saw  handsome  Mar's 
Jack  asleep,  for  instance  ?" 

Jack  pointed  one  of  the  fishing  rods  at  her. 

"  Die  traitor !  You  have  broken  a  solemn  com- 
pact. You  said  you  would  never  refer  to  that 
'  nap '  again/' 

"  Indeed,  I  could  not  resist  the  temptation ;  for- 
give me  this  time,  won't  you?*' 

"  Never,"  answered  Jack,  majestically.  "  Hence- 
forth all  energetic  expressions  that  proceed  from  a 
certain  pair  of  lips  shall  be  duly  laughed  over  and 
commented  upon.     So  guard  your  wayward  tongue." 

Katie  tossed  her  head. 

"  I  will  be  careful  that  you  shall  hear  nothing  but 
the  purest  rhetoric,"  she  said,  laughing.  "  But 
changing  the  subject,  or  rather  returning  to  the 
original  one,  Miss  Tessy  must  be  dreadfully — I 
mean  quite  old." 


46  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Old  ?  She  is  antediluvian.  I  never  expect 
her  to  die.     She  will  petrify  some  day." 

"  Tehee  !"  giggled  Caleb,  behind  them.  He  had 
kept  so  silent  that  Jack  and  Katie  had  forgotten  his 
very  existence. 

"  What's  the  matter  now,  young  man  ?"  asked 
Jack,  turning  around  suddenly. 

"  I  war  jest  a  finkin'  what  a  funny  angel  dat  ole 
'ooman  ud  make." 

Katie  laughed  merrily,  and  Jack  drew  down 
the  corners  of  his  mouth  as  he  said,  "  I  have  a  little 
proverb  for  you,  sir  !  {' '  Speech  is  silver  but  silence 
is  gold  ! '     Observe  the  gold,  do  you  hear?" 

Caleb  pouted. 

"  Well,  I'se  awful  tired  toatin'  dis  heah  heavy 
baksit  roun',  so  I  is." 

"Courage,  comrade,"  said  Jack.  "But  a  few 
steps  more  and  you  will  win  the  goal.  Here  we 
are,"  he  added,  tossing  himself  upon  the  grass. 
"  Now  for  a  jolly  fish.  I'll-'  meditate  my  time  away, 
and  angle  on.'  " 

"I  never  fished  in  my  life,"  said  Katie,  watching 
Jack's  preparations  with  great  interest,  "  and  I  have 
not  the  least  idea  of  how  to  go  about  it." 

"  You  are  not  a  second  Isaak  Walton,  I  see. 
Well,  I  will  teach  you  to  become  an  expert.     First, 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  47 

you  must  bait  your  hook ;  here,  Miss  Katie,"  he  said, 
his  eyes  twinkling  as  he  held  out  an  angle  worm. 

Katie  jumped  back  with  an  expression  of  disgust. 

"  O  the  horrid,  crawly  thing  ;  I  wouldn't  touch  it 
for  the  world." 

Jack  laughed. 

"  Alas,"  he  said,  tragically.  "  I  had  thought 
that  you  were  braver  than  the  rest  of  your  sex. 
Here,  Caleb,  come  bait  this  hook  for  me  while  I  at- 
tend to  Miss  Katie's." 

A  yell  from  Caleb  shortly  afterward  indicated 
that  he  had  baited  his  finger  as  well  as  the  hook,  and 
Mar's  Jack  and  Miss  Katie  hurried  to  the  rescue. 
The  poor  finger  was  extricated,  and  Katie  tore  her 
little  muslin  handkerchief  into  shreds  to  bind  the 
injured  member,  while  Jack  soothed  the  wounded 
feelings  and  wiped  the  overflowing  eyes. 

"  Come  now,  don't  cry  any  more,"  he  said,  sooth- 
ingly. "There  are  plenty  of  worse  things  in  the 
world  than  sore  fingers.  Go  hunt  for  some  sticks  to 
build  a  fire  while  Miss  Katie  and  I  catch  the  fish  to 
cook  upon  it.  If  you  are  ready,  Miss  Katie,"  he  said, 
after  Caleb  had  departed  on  his  mission,  "  we  will 
attend  to  business.  Here  is  a  pleasant  place.  Ex- 
cuse me,  but  you  must  keep  perfectly  quiet  and 
when  you  feel  a  tug  at  your  line,  just  whisper  and 


48  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

tell  me.     Now,  ready — one — two — three,"  and  the 
lines  were  dropped  into  the  water. 

Katie  sat  very  still,  holding  her  rod  tightly  and 
gazing  intently  down  into  the  water.  She  was 
thinking  of  what  a  pleasant,  old-fashioned  place 
Woodburn  was,  and,  yes,  of  what  an  agreeable 
master  it  had.  Then  she  stole  a  sidelong  glance  at 
Mar's  Jack,  and  she  wondered  if  he  were  thinking  of 
the  pretty  picture  in  his  pocket.  If  she  had  but 
known  he  was  thinking  of  the  pretty  picture  at  his 
side. 

Presently  Katie  felt  a  tug  at  her  line. 

"  Quick,  quick,  Mar's  Jack,  something's  pulling 
my  line,"  she  whispered. 

Jack  caught  the  line  and  pulled  in  a  small 
fish. 

"  O,  the  poor  little  thing,"  said  Katie,  putting 
her  hands  behind  her,  "I  wouldn't  take  it  off  the  line 
for  anything.  O,  dear,  put  it  back ;  I  do  believe  it's 
dying." 

"Of  course  it's  dying — what  else  did  you  ex- 
pect," laughed  Jack. 

"Well,  I  do  hate  to  see  anything  suffer,"  said 
Katie,  compassionately.  "  I  won't  catch  another  fish 
to-day,"  she  added,  resolutely. 

"  All  right.     I  will  do  that  part,  provided  you 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  49 

will  cook  them  after  they  are  caught.  You  do  not 
object  that,  do  you,  lady  mine  ?" 

"No,"  answered  Katie,  demurely,  "I  suppose 
not,  or  to  eating  them  after  they  are  cooked.  I  will 
attend  to  lunch  while  you  are  engaged  in  the 
slaughter  of  the  innocents." 

Ample  justice  was  done  to  the  luncheon,  which 
was  eaten  without  incident,  save  the  lodging  of  a 
bone  in  Caleb's  throat,  which  was  only  dislodged 
after  a  vast  amount  of  pounding  on  the  part  of  Jack 
and  rubbing  on  the  part  of  Katie.  After  luncheon 
they  roamed  about  the  woods  in  search  of  wild 
flowers,  until,  fairly  wearied  out,  Katie  seated  her- 
self at  the  foot  of  an  old  tree,  and  Jack  threw  him- 
self upon  the  grass  at  her  feet,  while  Caleb  assumed 
his  favorite  position,  viz. :  lying  on  his  stomach  with 
his  heels  in  the  air. 

"  O,  dear !  I  am  so  warm,"  and  Katie  began 
fanning  herself  vigorously  with  her  hat. 

"  Put  on  your  hat,  you  will  spoil  your  complex- 
ion," laughed  Jack. 

Katie's  lip  curled  scornfully. 

"  My  complexion  !  Pooh  !  What  do  I  care  for 
my  complexion?     My  face  is  not  my  fortune." 

"  If  beauty  is  a  fortune  to  its  owner,  you  are 
very,  very  fortunate,  mademoiselle." 

D  3 


50  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

The  blue  eyes  looked  searchingly  at  him. 

"  Are  you  a  flatterer,  Mr.  Terapleton  ?" 

The  brown  eyes  flashed  indignantly. 

"  Do  I  look  like  a  flatterer,  Miss  Lee  ?  I  ex- 
pressed exactly  what  I  thought.  You  know  that 
you  are  pretty,  bewitchingly  pretty,"  he  added,  fix- 
ing the  brown  eyes  intently  upon  the  lovely  face 
above  him. 

"  O,  dear !  My  net  is  coming  off,"  said  Katie, 
affecting  not  to  notice  his  remark,  and  jerking  at 
the  rubber  of  her  net.  It  snapped,  the  net  slipped 
off,  and  the  whole  rippling  mass  fell  around  her  like 
a  veil. 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?"  she  asked,  in  despair. 

"  Please  don't  do  anything.  Leave  it  just  as  it 
is,  Miss  Katie,"  said  Jack,  earnestly.  "  I  never  saw 
a  prettier  sight.  Truly,  the  glory  of  a  woman  is 
her  hair." 

That  reminds  me  of  something  funny,  Mar's 
Jack,"  iaughing  merrily ;  "  I  must  tell  you  about  it. 
Two  years  ago  I  had  the  typhoid  fever,  and  my  hair 
all  came  out.  It  looked  very  well  while  it  was 
short  and  curly  all  over  my  head,  but  when  it  grew 
•around  my  ears  I  wore  a  false  braid  with  it.  There 
was  a  dreadfully  sentimental  young  gentleman  com 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  51 

ingto  see  me  at  that  time,  and  I  really  think  that 
he  was  in  love  with  me." 

"  Don't  doubt  it,"  this  from  Jack. 

Katie  proceeded  without  noticing  the  interrup- 
tion. 

"  Well,  he  was  always  raving  about  my  eyes  and 
my  nose  and  my  mouth  and  I  don't  know  what  all. 
That  was  his  favorite  expression,  '  The  glory  of  a 
woman  is  her  hair,'  and  he  teased  me  incessantly 
to  let  my  hair  down,  until  one  day  I  said,  '  Mr.  Per- 
kins, do  you  really  want  me  to  let  down  my  hair?' 

'  '  O,  Miss  Katie,  do,  please  do !  Let  it  fall  in 
rippling  masses  at  your  feet,  that  I  may  toy  with 
the  wavy  locks.  Truly,  the  glory  of  a  woman  is  her 
hair.' 

"  '  Very  well,'  said  I,  taking  off  my  net  and  tak- 
ing out  the  hair  pins  and  laying  the  false  braid  in 
his  hand.  '  You  may  toy  with  that  as  long  as  you 
wish.'  Well,  you  never  saw  anyone  so  disgusted 
in  all  your  life.  I  don't  think  he  ever  called  upon  me 
again,"  concluded  Katie,  breaking  into  a  merry 
laugh,  in  which  Jack  joined. 

"  You  are  fond  of  seeing  a  poor  fellow  in  an  un- 
comfortable position,"  he  said,  remembering  the 
fatal  nap. 


52  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Well,  I  am  not  fond  of  going  without  my  sup- 
per," she  answered,  tying  on  her  hat  and  jumping 
up  from  the  grass.     "  See  how  late  it  is  growing." 

-  "  By  Jove,  that's  a  fact,"  said  Jack,  picking  up 
himself  and  the  fishing  rods. 

"  Here,  young  man,  change  cars  for  Richmond," 
he  added,  shaking  Caleb  who  had  fallen  fast  asleep. 

'  Don'  you  wallop  me,  mammy,"  whimpered  Ca- 
leb, sleepily. 

Jack  looked  up  at  Katie,  laughingly 

"  Caleb  gets  so  many  '  wallopings,'  he  dreams 
about  them.  Never  mind,  you  won't  suffer  any  if 
you  will  jump  up,"  he  added,  shaking  Caleb  again. 

Caleb  sat  up,  rubbed  his  eyes,  looked  around, 
comprehended  the  situation  and  grinned. 

"  I'se  pow'rful  glad  dat  I'se  only  dreamin',  "  he 
said  emphatically,  "  I  fought  mammy  were  a  gwine 
ter  lick  me,"  he  added,  jumping  up  and  taking  the 
basket  Jack  held  out  to  him. 

Mar's  Jack  shouldered  the  fishing  rods,  Katie 
gathered  up  the  wild  flowers,  Caleb  brought  up  the 
rear,  with  the  empty  basket,  and  the  exploring  par- 
ty started  homeward,  having  discovered  nothing, 

"But  the  little  desperate  elf, 
The  tiny  traitor — Love  himself." 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  63 


CHAPTER    IV. 


Two  water  drops  that  meet  and  mingle, 
Ko  art  of  man  can  e'er  make  single." 


I)  AIN  !  Rain  !  Rain  !  For  three  days  the  rain 
-*-  *"  poured  down  incessantly,  until  Mar's  Jack 
expressed  it  as  his  firm  conviction  that  a  second 
flood  was  in  order. 

Caleb's  little  nose  had  been  flattened  against  the 
pane  until  that  already  flat  member  was  scarcely 
recognizable  as  the  organ  for  which  it  was  designed. 

Poor  little  fellow  !  These  were  lonely  days  for 
him.  Mar's  Jack  and  Miss  Katie,  read,  chatted  and 
sang  together,  seeming  to  pass  the  time  away  very 
pleasantly,  despite  the  weather. 

Mrs.  Templeton  was  busy  with  her  household 
duties  and  took  no  notice  of  the  forlorn  little  boy, 
who  wandered  to  and  fro,  finding  no  rest  for  the 
sole  of  his  foot. 

If  he  ventured  to  the  kitchen  door  with  the 
remark — "  O  mammy,  I'se  mos'  outer  bref  fur  sum- 
fin  ter  eat !  "  his  mother's  fierce  looks  and  upraised 


54  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

broom  sent  him  trotting  back  to  the  house,  with  the 
feeling  that  he  preferred  solitude  to  such  entertain- 
ment as  Aunt  Dinah  had  in  store. 

It  was  the  last  straw  that  broke  the  camel's  back, 
when  the  rain  ceased  in  the  afternoon  of  the  third 
day  and  Mar's  Jack  told  Pompey  to  saddle  the 
horses  as  he  intended  to  ride  with  Miss  Katie  to 
Bellevue. 

It  was  a  mournful  little  figure  that  stood  in  the 
doorway,  as  Mar's  Jack  rode  away  with  his  pretty 
companion. 

"  He  alius  usen  ter  take  me  wid  him  eberywhar," 
he  thought  with  a  pang  of  jealousy,  "  but  now  he 
nebber  wants  me  no  mo'  sence  Miss  Katie's  done 
come.  I'se  gwine  ter  hunt  up  sumfm'  ter  do,"  he 
added  aloud,  with  mischief  in  his  eye,  thinking  of 
the  hen  house. 

But  the  consequences  attendant  upon  a  raid  on 
that  domain,  were  generally  fatal.  So  he  abandon- 
ed the  idea  as  impracticable. 

A  wade  in  the  numerous  puddles  made  by  the 
recent  rain  was  tried  but  was  soon  given  up. 

"  Dat  ain't  no  fun,"  he  said,  discontentedly. 
"  Kase  nobody  keers  ef  I  does  get  my  clothes  wet 
and  dirty.  Dey'se  nebber  any  odder  way  but  dirty 
fur  dat  matter.     An'  I  wants  ter  do  sumfin  what'll 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  55 

make  dem  big  folks  mad,  so  I  does,"  he  added,  go- 
ing into  the  house  and  seating  himself  upon  the 
stairs,  with  thoughts  bent  upon  mischief.  "  I  know 
what  I'se  a  gwine  ter  do,"  jumping  up  at  last  and 
proceeding  to  climb  the  wide  stairway.  "I'se  gwine 
up  ter  de  garret  an'  fin'  sumfin'  ter  play  wid,  so  I 
is." 

He  proceeded  very  cautiously,  however,  despite 
his  determination  to  make  "  dem  big  folks  mad,"  for 
the  garret  was  forbidden  ground,  and  Caleb  knew 
that  he  would  have  to  suffer  the  consequences  if 
caught  trespassing  in  that  sacred  realm. 

So  he  tip-toed  up  the  winding  stairway  leading 
to  the  garret,  and  opened  the  door  noiselessly. 

All  was  as  silent  as  the  grave,  and  as  Caleb 
looked  up  and  down  the  long,  low  room,  filled  with 
chests,  boxes,  trunks,  old  portraits,  and  innumera- 
ble articles,  old  and  musty,  a  feeling  of  awe  crept 
over  him,  and  his  first  impulse  was  to  run  away 
as  fast  as  the  little  black  legs  would  carry  him. 
The  feeling  was  only  momentary,  however,  for  he 
was  soon  peeping  into  old  chests,  and  hauling  over 
the  sacred  relics  of  past  centuries  with  very  little 
reverence  for  antiquity  or  regard  for  value.  He 
tried  on  old  dresses  and  poke  bonnets ;  encased  his 
little  black  hands  in  lace  mits,  and  minced  up  and 


^0  CALEB,    THE   IREEPBESSIBLE. 

down  the  attic  after  the  fashion  of  a  miss  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  He  dressed  himself  a  la  mili- 
tary, viz. :  heavy  coat,  epaulettes,  a  three-cornered 
hat,  and  rusty  sword,  and  then  marched  up  and 
down,  back  and  forth,  until  the  little  mice  peeped 
at  him  wonderingly  from  their  holes,  and  even  the 
old  portraits  seemed  to  gaze  with  astonishment  at 
this  noisy  intruder.  Nothing  disturbed  Caleb, 
however.  He  scampered  about  to  his  heart's  con- 
tent, poking  his  flat  nose  into  every  hole  and  corner. 

"Heah's  some  ledders,"  he  said,  pulling  out  the 
drawer  of  an  old  chest.  "  Dese  heah  ledders  mus' 
a  bin  writ  an  awful  long  time  ago.  Reckon  Moses 
or  'Lijah  done  writ  dese." 

Caleb's  knowledge  of  the  Bible  ended  with  these 
two  worthies. 

"  An'  heah's  an'  ole  fan,"  unfolding  a  huge 
flowered,  satin  fan,  "  ain't  this  gorg'is !  Reckon 
some  pretty  lady  like  Miss  Katie  done  use  dis  once. 
I  clare  for  gracious,  ef  heah  ain't  an  albung,"  taking 
out  a  book  of  photographs  and  seating  himself  upon 
the  floor.  He  placed  the  book  upon  his  knee  and 
regarded  the  pictures  intently.  Pictures  of  those 
whose  bright  faces  and  merry  voices  had  once  glad- 
dened old  Woodburn  ;  pictures  of  those  once  living 
and  loved — now  dead  and  forgotten. 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  57 

At  last  Caleb  closed  the  album,  fastened  the 
clasps  and  laid  it  back  into  the  chest. 

"  What's  dis  heah  hard  fing  in  dis  paper  ?"  he 
questioned,  tearing  open  an  old  yellow  envelope. 
"  Why,  it's  a  ledder  wid  a  ring  in  it,"  putting  the 
little  pearl  ring  upon  his  finger.  "  I'se  gwine  ter 
keep  dis  heah  ring,  so  I  is,"  holding  it  at  a  distance, 
and  gazing  at  it  with  shining  eyes.  "  I  nebber  had 
no  ring  in  all  my  life,  an'  now  I'se  a  gen'leman.  I'se 
gwine  ter  hide  it  so  nobody  can't  find  it,  too,"  put- 
ting it  back  into  the  envelope,  which  he  slipped  into 
his  pocket. 

The  waning  light  reminded  him  that  he  was  in 
danger  of  discovery  if  he  remained  any  longer,  so 
tumbling  misplaced  articles  back  into  their  places 
as  best  he  could,  Caleb  assumed  the  most  innocent 
look  possible,  and  slipped  down  stairs,  ready  to  wel- 
come Mar's  Jack  whenever  he  should  make  his  ap- 
pearance. 

Meanwhile  our  host  and  his  companion  were 
spending  a  pleasant  afternoon  at  Bellevue. 

Katie  was  chatting  dress,  fashion  and  so  forth 
with  Belle  and  Jessie  Fairfax,  two  pretty,  lively 
brunettes,  while  Jack  and  Wilton  Fairfax  talked 
agriculture  and  politics.     Then  the  conversation  be. 


58  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE 

came  general.  Topic  after  topic  was  brought  up, 
discussed  and  dropped  unceremoniously. 

"  Do  you  sing,  Miss  Lee  ?"  asked  Jessie  Fairfax, 
turning  to  Katie. 

"I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  do  not,"  answered 
Katie,  looking  appealingly  at  Jack. 

"  Thou  shalt  not — "  began  that  young  gentle- 
man, solemnly,  not  heeding  the  signs  she  made  him. 
"  You  are  in  danger  of  breaking  one  of  the  com- 
mandments, Miss  Katie." 

"  Well,  I  don't  sing  much,"  persisted^  Katie.  "I 
am  one  of  those  unfortunate  creatures  who  does  not 
do  anything.  I  have  not  a  single  accomplishment," 
sighing  in  affected  despair. 

"Don't  you  paint,  Miss  Lee?"  asked  Wilton, 
seating  himself  bsside  her. 

"  That's  rather  a  personal  question,  Fairfax," 
laughed  Jack,  ''  to  ask  a  young  lady  if  she  paints." 

"  Miss  Lee  knows  what  I  mean,  I  am  sure." 

"  Certainly  I  do,"  answered  Katie,  raising  the 
blue  eyes  to  his  face.  "  No,  Mr.  Fairfax,  I  do  not 
even  painty 

"  Then  do  let  me  shake  hands  with  you.  You 
are  quite  a  curiosity.  But  I  am  afraid  you,  too, 
will  be  affected  by  the  fever,  by  and  by.  You  see 
there  is  a  young  artist  who  comes  down  this  way 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  59 

every  summer,  and  the  girls  lose  their  heads  until 
he  goes  back  again." 

"  Now,  Wilton,"  put  in  Belle,  deprecatingly. 

"  Well,  it  is  sor  Miss  Lee.  I  am  sorry  to  be  the 
one  to  unfold  this  sad  tale,  but  you  should  be  en- 
lightened on  this  subject.  I  will  put  you  on  your 
guard.  Beware  this  young  and  handsome  artist. 
My  sisters  draw  and  paint  everything  they  can  lay 
their  haftds  up^n.  I  am  in  constant  terror  for  fear 
that  I  shall  walk  out  some  day  with  a  landscape 
painted  on  my  back.  You  do  not  know  how  I  suf- 
fer." 

"  Wilton,  do  be  still,"  pleaded  Jessie  ;  "  what 
will  Miss  Lee  think  of  us?  He  is  a  dreadful  tease," 
she  added,  turning  to  Katie.  "  Why,  the  other  day 
he  brought  one  of  my  drawings  and  asked  me  if  I 
would  please  label  it,  as  he  had  been  trying  to  find 
out  what  it  represented  for  the  last  hour." 

"  Well,  now,  I  appeal  to  you,  Miss  Katie,"  put  in 
Wilton,  "if  it  is  not  enough  to  make  a  man  long  for 
another  life,  to  study  over  an  idiotic,  simpering- 
looking  thing  for  an  hour  or  so,  and  then  to  be  told 
that  it  is  his  own  picture.  I  always  had  very 
pleasant  views  of  life  until  I  found  that  drawing, 
and  now  I  long  to  lay  this  weary  form  to  rest 
beneath  the  summer  daisies." 


60  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie  laughed  merrily. 

"  I  sympathize  with  you  deeply,"  she  said,  hold- 
ing out  her  hand. 

"  We  are  the  ones  who  need  your  sympathy," 
said  Jessie,  laughing.  "  But  changing  the  subject, 
Miss  Lee,  I  believe  you  do  sing,  and  I  shall  not 
let  you  off  this  time.  She  is  fibbing,  isn't  she,  Mr. 
Templeton  ?" 

"She  says  not,"  answered  Jack;  "but  I  beg 
leave  to  differ  with  her.  You  set  the  example,  Miss 
Fairfax,  and  sing  for  us,  won't  }tou  ?" 

"  I  will  upon  one  condition,  that  you  will  sing 
with  me.  By-the-by  I  have  a  lovely  new  duet  here, 
I  want  you  to  practice  with  me,"  she  said,  seating 
herself  at  the  piano  and  running  over  the  ac- 
companiment, while  Jack  took  his  place  at  her 
side. 

As  Katie  watched  Mar's  Jack  bending  over 
the  pretty  brunette,  her  heart  misgave  her,  and  she 
wondered  if  this  was  "  Mar's  Jack's  girl,"  of  whom 
Caleb  had  spoken. 

"Now,  Miss  Lee,  allow  me,''  and  Wilton  offered 
Katie  his  arm,  and  led  her  to  the  piano  after  the  duet 
had  been  duly  sung  and  praised.  Katie  sat  silent  a 
few  moments,  running  her  fingers  over  the  keys. 
Then  the  sweet,  clear  voice  broke  forth  into  song, 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  61 

and  the  listeners  were  held  breathless  with  expect- 
ancy. 

The  silence  was  almost  painful  as  the  last  note 
died  away,  and  Belle,  who  was  standing  near,  stooped 
and  kissed  the  lovely  face. 

"  I  could  listen  to  your  singing  forever,  dear," 
she  whispered,  softly. 

Katie's  face  flushed  crimson  as  she  saw  all  eyes 
bent  upon  her. 

"  Somebody  else  do  something,"  she  said,  with  a 
pretty  show  of  embarrassment,  jumping  up  from  the 
piano  stool. 

"  There  is  the  tea  bell,"  said  Wilton,  breaking 
the  spell.  "  I  will  do  something  quite  vigorously  in  a 
few  moments,  Miss  Lee,"  he  added,  laughingly,  as 
he  led  the  way  to  the  dining-hall. 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  'ere  Jack  and  Katie 
started  homeward  "Wilton  and  his  sisters  escorted 
them  to  the  gateway. 

"  You  have  a  lovely  night  for  your  ride,"  called 
Jessie  Fairfax  after  them  as  they  dashed  down  the 
road. 

When  they  were  out  of  sight  this  break-neck 
speed  was  gradually  slackened  into  a  walk. 

"  I  have  had  a  splendid  time,"  said  Katie,  turn- 
ing a  bright  face  towards  her  companion.     "  I  think 


62  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Mr.  Fairfax  and  his  sisters  are  ever  so  nice.  He  is 
quite  handsome.     Don't  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  I  never  saw  anything  very  strikingly  hand- 
some about  him,"  answered  Jack,  rather  stiffly. 

Katie's  eyes  twinkled.     She  delighted  to  tease. 

"  O,  I  think  he  is  one  of  the  handsomest  men  I 
ever  saw.    So  very  entertaining,  too." 

"  He  would  feel  flattered  at  your  opinion,  I  am 
sure." 

"  Will  you  take  me  to  Bellevue,  real  often  ?" 
coaxingly. 

"  I  am  always  at  your  service,"  very  coolly. 

The  laughing  blue  eyes  were  raised  to  his  face. 
Very  lovely,  she  looked  in  the  soft  moonlight. 

"  Do  you  know,"  she  said,  suddenly  changing 
her  tone,  "  I  would  like  to  live  always  on  such  a 
night  as  this.  Now,  I  am  not  sentimental,"  she 
added,  laughingly,  "but  really,  Mar's  Jack,"  be- 
coming serious  again,  "  there  is  something  pure, 
almost  holy,  about  a  lovely  moonlight  evening.  I 
wonder  how  anyone  can  doubt  the  existence  of  a 
Creator ;  don't  you?" 

Jack  regarded  her  intently  for  a  moment.  He 
could  not  understand  this  child-woman ;  at  one  mo- 
ment so  gay  and  thoughtless,  and  at  the  next  so 
serious  and  womanly. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  63 

"  You  are  never  the  same  two  minutes  at  a  time," 
he  said,  slowly,  after  a  pause. 

"  Am  I  changeable  ? 

"  Well,  perhaps  so,"  with  just  the  suspicion  of  a 
sigh;  "but  I  do  have  serious  thoughts,  sometimes, 
despite  my  seeming  carelessness.  And  I  often  won- 
der why  I  have  so  much  to  make  me  happy  and 
contented,  while  there  are  so  many  in  this  world 
who  are  dragged  down  by  poverty  and  temptations, 
of  which  I  know  nothing,  and  to  whom  life  itself  is 
a  burden." 

"And  yet,"  Jack  let  his  bridle  slip  down  upon 
the  horse's  neck,  becoming  interested  as  he  saw  the 
chance  of  an  argument.  "  And  yet,  Miss  Lee, 
you  say  that  you  do  not  see  how  one  can  doubt  the 
existence  of  a  Creator.  If  there  is  a  great  all-pow- 
erful being,  why  is  suffering  permitted  ?" 

The  pretty  face  grew  very  serious. 

"  That  I  can  not  tell.  I  remember  once,  when  a 
little  girl,  seeing  a  lady  working  a  mat,  and  I  won- 
dered why  she  used  dark  colors  as  well  as  the  bright 
reds  and  blues  ;  but  when  I  saw  the  mat  completed, 
I  understood  it  all.  The  dark  background  brought 
out  more  vividly  the  bright  colors.  Perhaps  life  is 
like  the  mat,  Mar's  Jack,  and  when  we  see  the  whole 
design  spread  before  us,  we  will  understand  why 


64  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

pain  is  always  mingled  with  our  pleasure.  But 
there,"  she  added  quickly,  with  a  slight  laugh,  "  you 
will  think  me  dreadfully  silly." 

"  That  seems  to  me  a  very  blindfold  way  of  tak- 
ing matters,"  answered  Jack,  pushing  the  argument, 
enjoying  Katie's  earnestness.  "  I  must  see  and  un- 
derstand, before  I  helieve." 

Mar's  Jack  always  declared  that  he  would  have 
been  a  lawyer,  had  not  Providence  ordained  him  a 
a  lazy  fellow,  with  a  comfortable  income. 

u  Why,  Mar's  Jack  " —  Katie  was  waxing  very 
vehement  — "  how  many  things  there  are  in  life 
that  you  can  not  understand,  and  yet  you  have  no 
alternative  but  to  believe  them.  You  can  not  ex- 
plain what  life  is,  and  yet  you  live.  Now,  Caleb 
never  saw  a  pain,"  she  added  laughingly,  "  and  as 
the  old  Doctor  of  Divinity  said,  '  There  are  all  of  the 
other  senses  over  against  the  one  sense  of  feeling,  to 
prove  that  no  such  thing  as  "  pain"  exists ; '  and 
yet,  after  one  of  Aunt  Dinah's  whippings,  I  think 
Caleb  will  tell  you,  very  emphatically,  that  pain 
exists." 

"  But,  my  dear  little  friend,  you  can  usually  see 
the  effects  of  pain  in  the  face,  or  in  some  part  of  the 
body." 


CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  65 

**  And  so  you  can  see  the  effects  of  the  Creator 
in  nature,"  Katie  answered  quickly. 

"  '  Plato,  thou  reason'st  well,'  "  laughed  Jack. 
"  Behold,  O  bright  orbs,  the  fair  philosopher  of  the 
nineteenth  century,"  he  added,  apostrophizing  the 
stars. 

Katie  looked  slightly  vexed. 

"  I  knew  you  would  ridicule  my  serious  vein ;  but 
I  can  not  help  it.    I  spoke  as  I  thought,  and  as  I  felt." 

"  And  I  would  not  have  it  otherwise,  my  fair 
little  philosopher,"  he  answered,  seriously.  "  I  do 
not  care  much  for  these  things  myself,  but  a  scepti- 
cal woman  is,  to  me,  the  saddest  sight  on  God's 
earth." 

"  Is  it  not  the  same  with  scepticism  in  man  ?  " 

"  I  would  say  '  no  '  to  that,  for  woman  may  lead 
man  to  all  that  is  purest  and  best,  or  she  may  drag 
him  down  to  the  lowest  depths  of  perdition."./ 

"  Now,  it  is  you  who  are  becoming  serious,"  said 
Katie,  smiling ;  "  but  I  will  return  good  for  evil, 
and  say  that  I  like  you  for  it." 

Jack  lifted  his  cap. 

"Thank  you!  But,  Miss  Katie,  changing  the 
subject  and  descending  to  things  '  of  the  earth, 
earthy,'  here  we  are,  at  the  edge  of  the  woods,  so 
E  3* 


6Q  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

hold  tightly  to  your  bridle,  for  your  horse  is  easily 
frightened." 

"  Oh,  dear  !  I  shall  feel  afraid,  here,"  she  cried, 
as  they  turned  into  a  dark  path  ;  and  she  held  tight- 
ly to  the  pommel  of  her  saddle,  as  though  that  were 
any  protection. 

"I  will  see  that  you  are  taken  care  of,"  and 
Jack  drew  a  pistol  from  his  pocket. 

"  O  mercy ! "  cried  Katie,  reining  her  horse  to 
one  side,  "  take  that  away,  please.  I  am  a  great 
deal  more  afraid  of  it,  than  of  anything  in  the 
woods." 

"  The  remedy  is  worse  than  the  disease,"  laughed 
Jack,  putting  the  pistol  into  his  pocket  and  riding 
up  beside  her.  "  But  don't  be  afraid  Katie.  I  will 
take  care  of  you ;  "  and  he  placed  his  hand  over  the 
soft  little  hand  that  held  so  tightly  to  the  saddle. 

They  rode  through  the  woods  in  silence,  Katie's 
heart  beating  quickly  at  every  sound  she  heard ; 
then  the  silence  was  broken  by  a  whisper  : 

"  Mar's  Jack  !  " 

"Well,  Miss  Katie?" 

"  Is  that  pistol  on  the  side  next  to  me  ?  " 

"  No,  Miss  Katie.' 

"  Oh ! "  and  Katie  relapsed  into  silence  ;  but  she 
breathed  more  freely  when  they  at  last  rode  out  into 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  67 

the  moonlight,  and  started  down  the  avenue  leading 
to  Woodburn,  in  a  brisk  trot. 

"  There  goes  my  hat,  Mar's  Jack  ! "  she  cried, 
reining  in  her  horse. 

"Take  mine  ;  it  will  probably  stay  on  your  head," 
he  said,  as  he  mounted  his  horse  again,  after  obtain- 
ing her  hat,  and  unsuspecting  Katie  placed  Jack's 
cap  upon  her  head. 

"  You  know  the  penalty,"  he  cried  exultingly. 

"  And  I  '11  suffer  it,  if  you  can  catch  me,"  she 
answered  saucily,  touching  her  horse  with  the  whip 
and  dashing  down  the  long  avenue,  leaving  her  pur- 
suer far  behind. 

She  arrived  at  Woodburn,  panting  and  breath- 
less j  but  Mar's  Jack  was  defrauded  out  of  a  kiss. 


68  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  Oh,  my  luve's  like  a  red,  red  rose. 

That's  newly  sprung  in  Jane, 
Oh,  my  luve's  like  a  melodie, 

That's  sweetly  played  in  tune, 
As  fair  art  thou  my  bonny  lass, 

So  deep  in  luve  am  I, 
And  I  will  luve  thee  still,  my  dear, 

Till  the  seas  gang  dry." 

rr^HE  summer  days  slipped  rapidly  away,  days 
-*-■  filled  with  laughter  and  song,  stirring  times  for 
quiet  old  Woodburn.  The  pretty  girlish  figure  and 
bright  laughing  face,  seemed  even  now  a  part  of 
the  old  place,  filling  it  with  sunshine.  The  ringing 
laugh,  and  sweet  clear  voice,  echoed  through  the  old 
halls,  and  as  Aunt  Dinah  said,  "  We's  gwine  ter  be 
mos'  like  corpses  w'en  Miss  Katie  goes  'way  from 
heah.  'Ceptin'  I'll  hab  enuff  ter  keep  me  'live 
1  walloping  '  dat  imp  of  a  Caleb." 

She  would  do  any  thing  to  please,"  Miss  Katie.  " 
Indeed  the  only  person,  not  even  excepting  Mrs. 
Templeton,  who  dared  invade  Aunt  Dinah's  king- 
dom during  cooking  hours,  was  her  pretty  favorite. 

"  Aunt   Dinah,"  said  Katie,  one  day,  "  I  have 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  69 

come  to  stay  a  little  while  with  you,  as  I'm  dread- 
fully lonesome." 

"  Come  right  in  heah,  honey,  and  sit  down. 
What's  become  ob  Mar's  Jack  dat  he's  done  lef 
you  'lone  ?" 

Katie  seated  herself  upon  the  step. 

"  He  has  gone  into  town  and  I  had  some  letters 
to  write,  so  I  did  not  care  to  go  with  him,  as  it  is  so 
warm,"  she  said,  fanning  herself  with  her  hat. 
"Don't  you  ever  get  lonesome,  out  here  all  by  your- 
self, aunty  ?" 

"  Fo'  goodness  sake,  honey.  I  don'  hab  no  time 
ter  git  lonesome,  now'days.  Fas'  as  I  git  froo'  wid 
one  ting,  dar's  anudder  awaitin',  to  be  done — Tain't 
like  it  were  'fore  Mar's  Richard  died,  honey,  wid  a 
niggah  fur  dis  and  a  niggah  fur  dat.  Now  dere's 
only  me  fur  to  cook  an'  Charlotte  an'  dat  lazy  Adel- 
ina  fur  ter  to  do  de  housework,  an'  Pompey  an' 
Frank  fur  ter  ten'  de  stables,  and  dat  comprises  our 
'retina'  ob  sarvants.  Times  is  changed,  honey. 
Times  is  changed.  Wen  I  tinks  ob  all  I'se  been 
troo  wid  I  clar  fore  gracious  I  'gins  ter  feel  mighty 
ale." 

"  How  old  are  you,  aunty  ?"  queried  Katie  look- 
ing up  into  her  face. 

"  I  dunno,  honey.      Reckon   I'se  'bout   twenty- 


70  CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

five."  Then  seeing  the  amused  look  upon  Katie's 
face,  she  hastened  to  add.  "  Well,  mebbe  I  ain't  so 
ole  as  dat.  You  see  I  can't  reckon  time  berry  well. 
I  war  young  an'  likely  bouten  de  time  when  Miss 
Ruf  war  a  baby,  so  mebbe  I  ain't  so  ole  as  I  tinks 
for." 

"  Can  you  remember  much  about  Ruth  Temple- 
ton,  aunty  ?" 

Aunt  Dinah  looked  up  from  the  cake  she  was 
stirring,  "  'Member — La,  honey,  de  ideah  ob  my  fur- 
gittin'  any  ting  dat  consarned  my  blessed  chile. 
Why  I  nursed  an'  tuken  car'  ob  her  w'en  she  were 
a  baby,  an'  lubbed  her  better'n  my  own  life  tell  de 
day  she  died.  " 

"  She  was  very  handsome,  so  Mar's  Jack  says, 
aunty." 

"  Wasn't  she,  do  !  Han'some  ain't  no  name  fur 
it.  She  war  buful  an'  she  had  crowds  an'  crowds 
o'  bows,  but  she  wouldn't  marry  none  ob  dem  fur 
her  heart  were  sot  on  a  young  fellah  from  the  Norf, 
Mar's  Hugh  Ashely.  But  dey  nebber  got  along  to- 
gedder,  some  how.  She  lubbed  him  but  she  sent 
him  'way.  It  war  alius  a  queer  sarcumstance.  She 
had  a  berry  sad  life.  Did  vou  ebber  heah  'bouten 
her?" 

Katie  nodded. 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  71 

"  Mar's  Jack  told  me  her  story.  She  was  not 
very  happy,  was  she  ?" 

Aunt  Dinah  sighed  and  shook  her  head,  "  No, 
'deed  she  wan't.  But  yer  nebber  seen  anybody  wid 
dem  big  brack  melumcholy  eyes  what  didn't  hab  a 
sad  life^j  It's  de  sho'  sign. " 

Katie  smiled  at  Aunt  Dinah's  superstition,  but 
she  made  no  comment. 

"  She  war  fated  ter  hab  trouble.  I  'member  onct 
dat  Mar's  Hugh  gabe  her  a  little  pearl  ring,  an' 
pearls  alius  bring  trouble,  you  know.  I  'member  a 
bride  what  wo'  pearls  at  her  weddin',  an'  she  died  a 
yeah  arterwards.  Pearls  is  bery — bery  unfortunate. 
My  po'  dear  chile  !  I  war  wid  her  w'en  she  died, 
an'  she  raised  dem  big  brack  eyes  ter  my  face,  an' 
she  says :  '  Auntie,  I  died  of  a  broken  heart,'  an' 
den  she  passed  away — my  po'  unhappy  baby  !  "  and 
Aunt  Dinah  wiped  her  eyes  with  the  corner  of  her 
apron. 

"  What  became  of  young  Ashely  ?  "  asked  Katie, 
after  a  pause. 

"  Oh,  he  went  up  Norf,  an'  married.  By  de  way, 
he  has  a  son  what  paints  picturs.  'Deed,  he  's  quite 
a  artis',  up  Norf,  somewhar.  He  comes  down  here 
mos'  ebery  Summer,  an'  stays  at  Bellevue,  an'  all  de 
gals  is  crazy  after  him.     Gals  is  awful  queer,  an^ 


72  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

how,  chile !  "  added  Aunt  Dinah,  measuring  out 
some  flour:  "  You  nebber  kin  tell  what  dey  is  gwine 
ter  do.  Now,  Miss  Katie,  dar  war  Mar's  Richard's 
second  sister,  she  had  a  beau  come  down  from  de 
Norf,  an'  she  were  alius  niakin'  fun  ob  him,  and  said 
he  war  homely,  an'  had  no  fam'ly  ancestries;  an' 
what  she  do  but  go  an'  marry  him,  an'  go  up 
Norf,  ter  live.  No,  'deed,  you  nebber  kin  tell  what 
gals  is  gwine  ter  do.  Now,  mebbe  you  might  marry 
Mar's  Jack,  an'  come  down  heah  ter  lib.  Dere's  no 
tellin',"  she  added,  measuring  out  some  more  flour, 
and  buttering  her  pans  for  the  cakes. 

Katie's  face  flushed  crimson. 

"  I  don't  expect  to  marry  any  one,"  she  said, 
with  a  slight  toss  of  her  head. 

"  Sho  !  You  jes'  hush  up,  honey,  fur  you  knows 
dat  's  a  fib.  De  ideah  ob  a  lubly  young  gal,  liken  you, 
not  'spectin'  ter  git  married  ! 

"  Dey 's  no  tellin'  what  you  '11  do,  I  tellyer.  I've 
hearn  gals  say  dey  wouldn't  hab  some  man,  ef  he  's 
de  las'  man  libin',  an'  den  go  an'  marry  dat  bery 
man.  Gals  is  so  queer,"  and  Aunt  Dinah  shook  her 
head  as  though  girls  were  mysteries  far  beyond  her 
comprehension.  "  You  see,  chile,"  she  began,  but 
here  she  was  interrupted  by  a  little  voice : 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  73 

"  Say,  mammy,  won'  you  gib  me  dem  pans  ter 
lick,  w'en  you  gits  froo." 

Aunt  Dinah  put  her  arms  akimbo,  and  gave 
Caleb  one  look,  at  which  he  trotted  away  as  fast  as 
the  little  black  legs  would  carry  him. 

"  Dat  chile  am  de  bane  ob  my  life,"  she  said,  as 
she  placed  her  cake  in  the  stove. 

"  He  's  a  pretty  bad  boy,  isn't  he,  aunty?  "  said 
Katie,  looking  after  the  retreating  figure. 

"  'Deed,  an'  he  ain't,  den,  chile,"  answered  Aunt 
Dinah,  quickly. 

She  abused  him  to  her  heart's  content  herself, 
but  was  on  the  defensive  directly,  if  any  one  else 
dared  say  one  word  against  him. 

"Dat  chile  am  bery  smart,  Miss  Katie.  You 
don'  know  all  de  'cute  tings  he  says  an'  does.  Why, 
de  odder  night  he  rubs  his  foots  'gainst  mine,  an'  he 
says  :  '  Has  you  got  yo'  shoes  on  in  bed,  mammy  ?  ' 
You  see  my  foots  is  so  hard,  kase  I  goes  'roun'  bar'- 
foot  so  much,  dat  dat  chile  fought  I  had  on  shoes, 
for  sho.  Oh,  he  's  a  bery  bright  chile,  'deed  he  is," 
she  added,  with  true  maternal  pride. 

"  It's  bery  warm  to-day,  honey,"  she  said  after 
a  pause,  wiping  her  face  with  her  apron  as  she  sat 
down  to  wait  for  the  cake  to  brown.     "Dat  sun 


74  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

looks  mighty  little  to  make  de  earf  so  warm.  How 
far  is  it  from  heah  ?     Does  you  know,  honey  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  exactly,"  answered  Katie,  in  an 
absent  way.  She  was  wondering  why  Mar's  Jack 
did  not  make  his  appearance. 

"  De  ideah  ob  you  studyin'  g'ografy,  an'  not 
knowin'  dat ! "  said  Aunt  Dinah,  contemptuously. 
(Aunt  Dinah  always  applied  your  ignorance  of  any 
subject  about  which  she  might  question  you,  to 
a  lack  of  knowledge  in  "  g'ografy.") 

Katie  laughed. 

"lam  not  very  well  versed  in  astronomy,  aunty. 
The  sun  is  millions  of  miles  away  from  us,  I  believe." 

Aunt  Dinah's  eyes  opened  wide  with  astonish- 
ment. 

"  De  Lawd  hab  mussy !  Millions  ob  miles  'way, 
an'  yet  it 's  so  warm  !  Dere  's  some  mighty  queer 
t'ings  in  dis  heah  worl',  chile,"  she  said,  shaking  her 
head,  "  an'  de  fac'  is,  de  mo'  you  learn,  de  queerer 
t'ings  seems." 

Katie  sat,  tying  and  untying  the  ribbons  of  her 
hat  in  an  absent  way,  and  the  blue  eyes  looked  far 
into  the  distance. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  aunty,"  she  said,  thoughtfully, 
"the  more  you  learn,  the  more  you  find  there  is  to 
learn.     It  is  'why,'  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  75 

Perhaps  only  in  the  great  hereafter  will  this  one 
query  of  life  be  answered." 

"  What !  philosophizing  again  ?  "  questioned  a 
merry  voice,  and  Mar's  Jack  sat  down  on  the  steps, 
beside  her. 

"  Yes ;  and  Aunt  Dinah  had  the  benefit  this 
time,"  laughed  Katie  ;  "  but  when  did  you  come? 
I  did  not  know  you  were  here  until  I  heard  your 
voice." 

"  And  it  was  the  sound  of  this  musical  voice,  my 
lady  Katherine,  that  drew  your  humble  servant 
thither.  Drawing  near,  I  heard  wise  sayings  fall 
from  ruby  lips,  and  profited  thereby." 

"  Now,  don't  be  silly,  Mar's  Jack  ;  or  rather,  do 
be  sensible.  Say,  by  the  by,  have  you  a  letter  for 
me?" 

"A  letter  ?"  affecting  great  astonishment,  "how 
should  I  have  a  letter  for  you  ?  " 

Katie  jumped  up  from  the  steps  and  clasped  her 
hands  together.  "O,  please,  don't  tease  me  Mar's 
Jack !  I  want  one  so  much  and  I  know  by  your 
eyes  that  you  have  one  for  me.  Do  give  it  to 
me,  won't  you  ?"  she  pleaded,  earnestly. 

"'Deed  he's  got  a  ledder,"  said  Caleb  coming  up 
the  steps,  but  taking  good  care  to  keep  out  of  the 
range  of  Mar's  Jack's  boot,  "  I  seed  him  wid  one." 


76  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  O  please  give  it  to  me  ?"  pleaded  Katie. 

"  What  will  you  give  me  for  it  ?"  looking  ro- 
guishly into  the  blue  eyes, — "  a  kiss  ?" 

Katie's  lip  curled  scornfully. 

"  You  can  keep  the  letter,"  she  answered  shortly, 
turning  upon  her  heel. 

Jack  burst  into  a  merry  laugh. 

"  I  do  so  love  to  tease  you,  mademoiselle.  You 
are  such  a  nice  subject  for  a  good  tease.  Do  you 
want  your  letter  very,  very  much?"  he  added 
holding  it  out  to  her. 

"  Is  dat  ledder  writ  by  dat  gen'leman  w'at  you 
got  de  pictur  of?"  questioned  Caleb,  grinning  mis- 
chievously. 

Katie's  face  flushed  and  Jack  looked  up  quickly. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Miss  Lee,"  he  said  bowing 
stiffly  and  handing  her  the  letter.  "  I  did  not  intend 
to  keep  a  letter  of  so  much  importance  to  you." 

Foolish  Mar's  Jack  !  Could  he  not  see  that  the 
post  mark  was  foreign  ? 

"I  was  very  anxious  to  obtain  it,"  very  softly, 
and  with  downcast  eyes. 

"  So  I  perceived,"  with  a  slight  laugh. 

"  Will  you  excuse  me  if  I  leave  you  ?  I  want  to 
read  my  letter,"  hesitatingly. 

Mar's  Jack  bowed  again  very  stiffly. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  77 

"  O,  certainly — Pray  do  not  let  me  detain  you." 

And  Katie  tripped  away,  with  eyes  brimming 
over  with  mischief. 

Jack  watched  her  until  she  disappeared  through 
the  doorway. 

Then  he  turned  slowly  and  walked  away,  while 
Caleb  trotted  like  a  little  dog  at  his  heels. 

"Had  Katie  a  lover?  Of  course,"  mused  Jack, 
"  One  so  pretty,  so  interesting,  could  not  but  be 
admired  and  loved.  It  was  not  for  him  to  pluck 
this  pretty  flower  and  wear  it  as  his  own.  Other 
eyes  looked  upon  it  and  other  hands  reached  out  to 
grasp  it. 

"  Then  why  did  she  come  here,  filling  the  house 
with  sunshine — only  to  leave  a  dreary  blank  behind 
her  when  she  was  gone  ?  What  right  had  she  to 
steal  his  heart  away  by  her  very  loveliness — only  to 
toss  it  aside  with  contempt.  Did  she  belong  to 
another  ?"  Jack  could  not  bear  the  thought. 

"  Mar's  Jack"  said  Caleb  breaking  the  silence, 
"  Miss  Katie  lubs  dat  pictur  w'at  she  got." 

"  Be  still,  Caleb,  will  you  ?"  very  gruffly,  kick- 
ing a  stone  out  of  his  way.  "  What  do  you  know 
about  Miss  Katie  or  her  letters  either." 

"  Well  I  does  know  'bout  dose  ledders.  Kase  I 
seed  Miss  Katie  kiss  dem  an  awful  lot  an'  a  pictur 


78  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

too  w'at  she  had.  She  lubbed  dat  pictur,  she 
did." 

"  Kissed  the  picture  ?     Humph  !  " 

"'Deed  she  did.  She  kiss  it  mos'  a  hunnerd 
times.  It  war  de  pictur  of  au  awful  nice  gen'leman 
like  you  Mar's  Jack,  wid  brack  eyes  an'  brack  hair 
-an'-an'-"  (Caleb  was  at  his  old  habit  of  inventing 
for  the  occasion)"  an'  a  brack  'stache  ober  his  mouf. 
'Deed  he  war  awful  han'some,  an'  I  fink  dat — — " 

"  Do  be  still,  Caleb,"  Jack  said,  petulantly.  "  Go 
away  and  leave  me  alone,  do  you  hear  ?"  he  added, 
stopping  at  the  veranda  steps. 

"  Yes,  sah.  Shall  I  tell  Miss  Katie  not  to  kiss 
dat  pictur  no  mo',  kase  you  don'  like  it  ?" 

"  No  don't  say  anything  of  the  kind,  do  you 
hear?  And  take  yourself  off  directly,  sir,"  said 
Jack,  making  a  move  towards  him,  at  which  Caleb 
darted  off,  leaving  Mar's  Jack  alone  with  his 
thoughts,  which  I  fear  were  not  very  pleasant  ones. 

"  "Pis  the  old,  old  story,"  he  muse.d.  "  Many 
long  for  the  prize  that  only  one  obtains." 

He  knew  now  how  dear,  how  inexpressibly  dear 
she  was  to  him — how  her  very  loveliness  had  twined 
itself  about  his  heart. 

Dreary  would  old  Woodburn  be.     Jack    shud- 


CALEB.   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  79 

dered  to  think  of  the  long  weary  days  without  her 
bright  presence. 

"  Why  has  she  given  me  every  encouragement  ? 
Is  she  a  heartless  flirt,  and  am  I  the  plaything  of  the 
hour,  to  be  picked  up  and  cast  aside  at  her  pleas- 
ure ? 

"No,"  he  said,  fiercely,  "she  shall  not  trifle 
with  my  affections.  She  shall  explain  matters  to 
me  before  I  am  an  hour  older." 

So  determining,  Mar's  Jack  walked  down  the 
hall  and  turned  into  the  library. 


80  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


"  Never  speak  of  love  with  scorn, 
Such  were  direst  treason  ; 

Love  was  made  for  eve  and  morn, 
And  for  every  season." 


T"/r"ATIE  was  seated  in  the  big  arm  chair  at  the 
-*-  ■  open  window,  the  blue  eyes  raised  thought- 
fully toward  the  bit  of  blue  sky  that  was  visible 
through  the  trellis — and  an  open  book  lay  unheeded 
upon  her  lap. 

The  black  shadow  (Katie's  now  as  well  as  Mar's 
Jack's)  was  lying  on  the  floor,  running  his  little 
fingers  along  the  vines  in  the  carpet  and  talking 
away  to  himself  with  much  ardor. 

He  sprang  up  at  Mar's  Jack's  entrance  and  hid 
behind  Katie's  chair. 

Jack  eyed  him  sternly.  "  What  are  you  doing 
here,- Caleb  ?" 

"I  ain't  doin'  nuffin,"  said  the  irrepressible, 
peeping  out  at  his  master.  "  Miss  Katie  done  tole 
me  I  could  come  in  heah.     Didn't  you,  Miss  Katie  ?" 

"  Miss  Katie  is  too  busily  and  I  presume  too 
pleasantly  occupied  with  her  own  thoughts  to  heed 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  81 

us,"  Jack  said,  in  a  low  tone,  speaking  to  Caleb,  but 
with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  pretty  form  in  the  arm 
chair. 

The  blue  eyes  were  raised  to  his  face. 

"  Did  you  speak  to  me,  Mar's  Jack  ?"  she  ques- 
tioned, absently. 

"1  merely  told  Caleb  that  you  seemed  very 
pleasantly  occupied  with  your  own  thoughts. 

"  They  were  very,  very  pleasant  thoughts,"  she 
replied,  dreamily. 

"Pray  do  not  let  me  disturb  them,"  and  Jack 
seated  himself  at  the  table  and  began  to  drum  upon 
the  marble  with  his  fingers. 

"  O,  certainly  not,"  and  the  blue  eyes  were  turned 
toward  the  sky  again.  But  she  knew,  little  hypo- 
crite, that  the  brown  eyes  were  fixed  searchingly 
upon  her. 

Then  all  became  silent.  Naught  was  heard  but 
the  measured  tick  tick  of  the  little  clock  upon  the 
mantel. 

Caleb,  however,  could  not  long  endure  this  re- 
straint. He  moved  restlessly  to  and  fro.  Presently 
he  burst  out  with  : 

"  Mar's  Jack,  why  don't  you  an'  Miss  Katie  git 
married  ?" 
F 


82  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie's  face  flushed  crimson,  and  Jack  sprang 
to  his  feet. 

"  Walk  yourself  out  of  this  room  in  a  very  short 
space  of  time,  sir.     Do  you  understand?" 

Caleb  edged  around  between  Miss  Katie  and  the 
window. 

"  I  nebber  said  nuffin,"  he  pouted,  "  'ceptin'  I  ax 
why  you  an'  Miss  Katie  didn't  git  married.  Dat's  all." 

"Miss  Katie  probably  does  not  want  me."  Jack 
leaned  against  the  table  and  folded  his  arms.  "  I 
am  convenient  as  an  escort  and  so  on  and  so  forth, 
but,  you  see,  if  Miss  Katie  attempted  to  keep  an 
account  of  all  her  summer  flirtations,  if  she  consid- 
ered them  as  anything  serious,  she  would  have  her 
hands  full.     Ask  her  if  I  am  not  right  ?" 

Caleb  looked  puzzled.  He  crept  up  close  to 
Katie  and  smoothed  her  soft  white  hands  with  his 
little  black  one. 

"  Miss  Katie,  why  don't  you  marry  Mar's  Jack  ? 
He's  de  bes'  man  dat  eber  libed." 

The  blue  eyes  looked  roguishly  down  into  the 
little  black  face. 

"  I  don't  believe,  Caleb,  that  he  has  ever  asked 
me  to  marry — " 

The  sentence  was  not  finished,  for  Mar's  Jack 
had  her  in  his  arms. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  83 

"I  ask  you  now,  ray  darling,"  he  said,  passion- 
ately, "  for  I  love  you  very,  very  dearly.  O,  Katie, 
tell  me  anything  rather  than  you  do  not  love  me.  I 
can  not  live  without  you.  My  ever}'  hope,  my  every 
interest,  is  centered  in  you.  Will  you  be  my  wife, 
Katie?"  looking  down  into  the  blue  eyes  for  his 
answer. 

"  O,  dear !"  said  Katie,  with  a  little  gasp,  "  I 
can't  breathe  if  you  hold  me  so  tightly.  This  is  so 
— so  —  sudden,  you  see,  I" — extricating  herself 
from  his  arms — "  I — well — please  give  me  time  to 
think." 

"  Time  to  think,"  he  repeated,  bitterly.  "  Time 
to  think  of  what  ?  Of  another  ?  Of  my  folly  in  lov- 
ing you?  No,"  he  added,  sternly,  seizing  her  by 
the  wrist.  "  As  I  live,  Katie  Lee,  you  shall  explain 
matters  to  me.  You  shall  tell  me,  to-day,  this  hour, 
this  minute,  if  you  belong  to  another," 

Katie's  eyes  flashed. 

"  Shall  is  an  emphatic  word,  Mr.  Templeton.  I 
will  give  account  to  no  one  for  my  actions,"  she  said, 
haughtily. 

Jack  released  the  imprisoned  wrist. 

"  Pardon  me,  Miss  Lee  ;  I  forgot  myself.  I — O 
Katie — Katie,"  he  added,  yearningly,  holding  out  his 
arms  to  her,  "if  you  only  knew  how  dear  you  were 


84  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

to  me  ;  if  you  only  knew  how  unhappy  I  shall  be 
when  you  are  gone,  you  would  come  to  me.  Only 
tell  me,  Katie,  have  you  given  your  heart  to  any- 
one ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Katie,  in  a  low  tone. 

"  To  whom  ?"  he  asked,  huskily. 

"  To  Mar's  Jack,"  she  whispered,  and  the  next 
moment  she  was  clasped  to  his  breast,  while  Caleb 
looked  on  in  astonishment. 

"  He's  gwine  ter  kiss  her  face  mos'  off,"  he  said 
to  himself,  shaking  his  little  head  and  grinning. 
"  Now  he's  a  huggin'  her  mos'  to  def.  Dey  does  aw- 
ful queer,  anyhow.  One  minute  dey  looks  so  mad 
like  dey's  gwine  ter  fight,  an'  de  nex'  dey's  a 
huggin'  an'  kissin'.  I  don'  see  what  dey's  a  sittin' 
ober  dah  on  de  sofa  for,  a  lookin'  inter  each  odder's 
faces  liken  dey  nebber  seed  each  odder  a  foah.  I 
'clare  foah  gracious,  I  finks  dey's  bofe  gone  crazy." 

But  Jack  and  Katie  were  utterly  regardless  of 
Caleb's  opinion.  Indeed,  they  seemed  oblivious  to 
the  fact  that  two  big  round  eyes  stared  at  them 
wonderingly. 

"  Katie,"  said  Jack,  taking  the  soft  little  hand  in 
his  own,  "  May  I  ask  you  one  question  ?  What 
about  the  letters  and  the  photograph  ?" 

"  The  letters  and  the  photograph?" 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  85 

"  Yes,  Katie." 

"  The  letters  were  written  by  a  very  dear  friend 
of  mine,"  she  answered,  softly,  the  long  lashes  droop- 
ing upon  her  cheek. 

"  And  the  picture  ?" 

"  Is  his,"  without  raising  her  eyes. 

"  May  I  ask  his  name,  Katie  ?"  rather  stiffly. 

44  His  name  is  Lee,"  raising  her  eyes  roguishly. 

Jack  looked  rather  foolish. 

"  Why,  Katie,  it  is  not  your — " 

"Father;  why,  yes,  it  is,"  she  said,  laughing 
merrily. 

"  O,  what  a  jealous  boy  you  are  !  Now  I  will  be 
interrogator  for  a  while,  Mar's  Jack.  Whose  picture 
do  you  carry  around  with  you  and  kiss,  'mos' 
a  hunnerd  times  a  day  ?'  as  Caleb  says. 

Jack  drew  the  miniature  from  his  pocket  and 
handed  it  to  her. 

"  O,  Mar's  Jack  !  Where  did  you  get  this  ?  It 
is  my  dear,  dear  mother." 

And  Katie  gazed  tenderly  down  into  the  sweet 
face. 

"  I  know  it,  Katie.  Mother  gave  it  to  me  before 
you  came,  because  I  fancied  the  face,  and  I  have 
kept  it  ever  since  because  it  was  so  very  like  my  lit- 
tle darling,"  he  added,  gently. 


86  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Well,  now,"  looking  up  archly,  "  I  think  you 
were  very  silly  to  carry  around  ray  picture  and  kiss 
it  when  I  was  right  here  all  the  time." 

"  But  I  couldn't  then,  you  know,"  said  Jack, 
stooping  to  take  the  benefit  of  his  newly-acquired 
privilege,  "  so  I  had  to  do  the  next  best  thing  as  a 
substitute.     All's  fair  in  love,  my  lady." 

"  Tehee !  You  all  lubs  each  odder  awful  much, 
don'  you  ?" 

"  O,  my  evil  genius,  are  you  there  ?"  asked  Jack 
in  affected  horror.  "  Do  you  know,"  he  added, 
turning  to  Katie,  "  I  have  become  a  firm  believer  in 
fatality.  I  am  doomed  to  be  haunted  by  that  little 
specimen  of  humanity  for  the  rest  of  my  earthy  ex- 
istence.    So  I  must  submit  to  my  fate  like  a  stoic." 

"I  don'  keer  ef  I  is  bad.  Miss  Katie  done  like 
me,  anyhow.  Don'  you,  Miss  Katie  ?"  Caleb  asked, 
rubbing  Katie's  soft  hand  and  looking  up  into  her 
face. 

"  O,  yes,  Caleb,  I  like  you  very  much  when  you 
are  a  good  boy." 

"Now,  look  here,  Cabe,  I  do  not  intend  to  share 
with  you  so  you  had  better  trot  off  and  leave  Miss 
Katie  with  me,"  and  Jack  took  both  of  Katie's  hands 
in  his  own. 

Caleb  pouted. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  87 

"  Well,  I  reckon  Miss  Katie  done  got  two  han's 
an'  I  kin  hab  dis  one  an  you  kin  hab  dat  one.  Don' 
you  see,  Mar's  Jack?" 

"  I  appreciate  your  kindness  deeply,  "Jack  said, 
making  a  low  bow,  "  which  hand  do  you  prefer  ?" 

"  Dis  here  lef  one  ?" 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Jack,  taking  the  other 
hand,  and  adding  in  a  lower  tone,  "  I  intend  to  get 
the  prettiest  ring  I  can  find  for  this  little  hand, 
Katie." 

Caleb's  eyes  brightened. 

"  I  done  got  a  ring  fur  my  han',"  he  cried  ex- 
ultantly, drawing  the  letter  from  his  pocket  and 
taking  the  pearl  ring  from  it. 

"  Mysteries  of  Udolpho  !  Where  did  you  get 
this  ring,  Caleb?"  asked  Jack,  examining  it  cu- 
riously. 

This  question  was  a  poser.  The  visit  to  the  gar- 
ret must  not  be  disclosed. 

"  I  done  foun'  dis  heah  ring  an'  dis  ledder,  dats 
all,"  he  said  hesitatingly,  rubbing  his  toes  along 
the  carpet  and  eyeing  Mar's  Jack,  half  defiantly, 
half  timidly. 

"  O  you  found  it — did  you  ?  Let  me  see  it,  " 
commanded  Jack  sternly,  holding  out  his  hand  for 
the  letter  which  Caleb  delivered  rather  reluctantly, 


88  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

fearing  that  it  perchance  might  give  some  clue  to 
his  visit  to  the  garret. 

It  was  only  the  fragments  of  a  letter,  yellow  and 
old. 

"  See  if  you  can  read  it,  Mar's  Jack,"  said  Katie, 
looking  over  his  shoulder. 

Jack  held  it  up  the  light  and  read, 

"  I  have  always  had  a  superstition  about  pearls. 
They  say  for  every  pearl  a  tear.  Alas  !  The  tears 
I  have  shed  would  far  outnumber  these  shining 
pearls  about  my  neck.     I  may  be  foolish  and  yet 


"  Here  it  is  torn,"  said  Jack,  examining  it  closely, 
and  continuing, 

"  I  will  lay  aside  this  little  ring,  his  gift,  that 
reminds  me  so  vividly  of  the  past,  and  the  happy, 
happ}^  days,  gone — now — forever." 

"Katie,"  he  said,  thoughtfully,  after  a  pause,  "this 
letter  was  written  by  Aunt  Ruth  Templeton.  I 
remember  mother's  telling  me  something  about  my 
aunt's  superstition  regarding  pearls.  I  believe 
this  ring  was  given  to  her  by  the  lover  she  jilted." 

Katie  looked  down  at  the  pearl,  with  renewed 
interest. 

"  Poor  Aunt  Ruth,"  continued  Jack  musingly. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  89 

"  But  young  man,"  he  added,  quickly,  turning  to 
Caleb,  with  a  frown,  "  I  want  to  know  where  you 
found  this  ring?     Do  you  hear  ?" 

Caleb  edged  away  from  him. 

"  I  jis  done  foun'  it  some  whar,  dats  all." 

It  was  well  for  Caleb  that  Mar's  Jack  was  in  an 
excellent  humor. 

"  Well  that  will  not  be  all  at  another  time," 
he  said,  half  laughingly.  "  I  will  not  scold  now,  but 
you  are  never  to  go  to  the  garret  again  without  per- 
mission.    Do  you  understand  me,  Caleb  ?" 

"  Yes,  sah,"  answered  Caleb,  with  alacrity,  de- 
lighted at  escaping  so  easily. 

Katie  had  been  sitting  very  still  with  her  eyes 
bent  upon  the  floor, 

"  Mar's  Jack,"  she  said  at  last,  "  I  prefer  this  ring 
to  any  other.     May  I  keep  it?" 

Jack  looked  surprised. 

"  Certainly,  my  darling,  if  you  wish.  I  wanted 
to  place  something  very  pretty  upon  this  little  hand. 
But  it  shall  be  as  you  wish.  " 

"  Here,  Caleb,  you  found  this  ring,  so  it  belongs 
to  your  hand." 

And  Caleb  slipped  the  pearl  ring  upon  Katie's 
finger. 

"Now  we's  all  done  got  begaged  to  each  odder," 

4* 


90  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

he  cried,  grinning   and    clapping   his  little    hands 
together. 

"  And  this  is  the  seal  of  our  engagement,"  and 
Jack  drew  Katie  closely  to  him,  and  imprinted  a 
kiss  upon  the  warm  red  lips. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  91 


CHAPTER  VII. 


"  And  on  her  lover's  arm  she  lean't, 

And  round  her  waist  she  felt  It  fold. 
And  far  across  the  hills  they  went, 
In  that  new  world  which  is  the  old." 


TT  was  a  very  warm,  sultry  afternoon. 
-*-  Mar's  Jack  lay  stretched  at  full  length  upon  a 
sofa,  on  the  east  veranda.  Katie  sat  at  a  short  dis- 
tance from  him,  rocking  in  a  low  wicker  chair  and 
busily  engaged  in  the  vigorous  use  of  a  large  palm 
leaf  fan ;  which  occupation  probably  made  her 
warmer  than  she  would  otherwise  have  been. 

They  had  been  very  quiet  for  a  long  time,  the 
creaking  of  Katie's  chair,  as  she  rocked  to  and  fro, 
being  the  only  sound  that  broke  the  silence.  Katie 
longed  to  know  of  what  Mar's  Jack  was  thinking. 
Was  he  musing  of  the  happiness  of  the  past  few 
days?  Or,  was  he  thinking  of  how  happy  they 
would  be  in  the  days  to  come,  when  each 

A  corner  of  the  handkerchief  that  covered  Jack's 
face  was  raised. 

"  Say,  Kit,  I  have  just  arrived  at  the  conclusion 
that  a  cigar  would  be  perfection;  may  I  smoke  ?" 


92  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie's  face  assumed  a  disgusted  expression. 

"  Alas  for  the  wide  difference  between  supposi- 
tion and  fact.  I  have  been  attributing  all  sorts  of 
sentimental  thoughts  to  you,  and  you  dispel  the 
illusion  by  asking  in  the  most  common-place  man- 
ner possible,  '  May  I  smoke  ?' " 

Jack  laughed. 

"  Well,  really,  I  have  had  very  serious  thoughts 
this  afternoon.  But  just  at  that  moment  the  idea 
penetrated  my  brain,  that  a  '  smoke  '  would  be  in 
accordance  with  the  general  fitness  of  things." 

"  You  will  be  allowed  this  indulgence  upon  one 
condition,"  answered  Katie,  "namely,  that  you  ful- 
fil a  certain  promise  made  some  time  ago.  I  shall 
not  tell  you  what  it  is  until  you  finish  your 
cigar." 

"All  right,"  replied  Jack,  striking  a  match,  "I 
submit  to  any  conditions,  so  long  as  I  may  indulge," 
and  he  lay,  the  perfect  picture  of  contentment,  puff- 
ing his  cigar  and  blowing  the  smoke  in  little  rings 
into  the  air. 

"  Do  you  know,  Katie,"  he  said,  suddenly,  after 
a  pause,  "  I  am  an  abominably  lazy  chap." 

"  Has  the  truth  of  that  very  apparent  fact  just 
dawned  upon  your  perception  ?"  queried  Katie, 
roguishly. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  93 

Jack  drew  a  long  puff  at  his  cigar  and  became 
enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  smoke. 

"  No,  seriously,"  he  said,  at  last,  a  thoughtful 
look  coming  into  the  dark  eyes,  "  I  have  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  I  am  a  very  useless  sort  of  fel- 
low. In  my  college  days  I  used  to  have  very  ambi- 
tious hopes  of  making  a  way  and  a  name  for  myself 
in  the  world ;  but  on  coming  back  home,  I  settled 
down  into  an  easy-going,  lazy  sort  of  life,  and  1 
don't  suppose  that  I  ever  shall  amount  to  anything," 
he  added,  with  a  sigh.  •"  Such  drones  as  I  am 
should  be  pushed  out  of  this  busy  bee-hive  of  life." 

Katie  smiled. 

"This  must  be  one  of  your  blue  days,  Mar's 
Jack.  And  I  should  tell  you  what  an  altogether 
nice  sort  of  a  fellow  I  think  a  certain  young  gentle- 
man of  my  acquaintance  to  be,  if  I  did  not  know 
that  he  was  well  enough  aware  of  that  fact  at  most 
times.  But,  there,"  she  added,  jumping  up  and 
shaking  out  the  dainty  lace  ruffles  of  her  dress.  "I 
have  something  for  this  '  drone '  to  busy  himself 
about  for  an  hour  or  so.  Come,  fulfil  your  promise, 
Mar's  Jack,  and  take  me  to  visit  the  '  old  church '  of 
which  you  told  me." 

Jack  raised  himself  upon  his  elbow  and  looked 
at  her  in  astonishment. 


94  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Why,  Katie,"  he  began,  but  a  soft  little  hand 
was  placed  over  his  mouth. 

"Now,  I  know  what  you  are  going  to  say :  '  It's 
so  dreadfully  warm,  the  church  is  such  an  intermin- 
able distance,  etc'  But  I  am  deaf  to  all  excuses. 
When  a  woman  will,  she  will,  you  may  depend  on't ; 
so  do  not  argue,  but  obey."/ 

"  O,  you  little  tyrant,"  laughed  Jack,  drawing 
her  towards  him.  "  Well,  tell  me  how  much  you 
think  of  me  and  I  will  follow  wheresoe'er  you 
lead." 

"  I  love  you  very  dearly,"  she  said,  softly,  as 
Jack's  arm  stole  around  her  waist, — "  at  a  distance," 
she  added,  saucily,  springing  away  from  him  and 
darting  through  the  doorway. 

She  returned  in  a  few  moments  with  a  large 
hat  tied  under  her  chin,  Jack's  sunshade  in  one 
hand  and  a  huge  umbrella  in  the  other 

"Come,  Mar's  Jack,  I  am  ready." 

"  Perhaps  you  would  prefer  me  at  a  distance." 

"  O,  no  !  not  in  this  case.  You  will  be  too  use- 
ful," she  said,  nonchalantly.  "  I  want  you  to  hold 
this  umbrella  over  my  head  and  carry  this  basket 
for  ferns.  But  you  know  the  old  quotation, 4  'Tis 
distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view.'  " 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  95 

"It  may  be  in  some  folks,  certainly  not  in  you," 
said  Jack,  poetically. 

"  Such  poetry  is  not  admissible,"  answered 
Katie,  laughing ;  "  the  rhyme  and  the  meter  should 
both  be  completer.  You  may  be  a  poet,  but  I  do 
not  know  it,  for  you  do  not  show  it." 

"  Go  it,"  added  Jack,  nodding  his  head  approv- 
ingly. 

"  Quite  enough  nonsense,  now,  Mar's  Jack. 
Come  on  and  be  good  for  once  in  your  life.  Let's 
go  to  church." 

I  am  snre  I  do  not  know  for  what  reason  Mar's 
Jack  and  Miss  Katie  carried  the  huge  umbrella.  They 
walked  westward  with  the  sun  shining  full  in  their 
faces  and  held  the  umbrella  behind  their  backs.  It 
may  have  been  carried  for  some  other  purpose  thtin 
for  protection,  for  every  time  Katie  said  or  did  any- 
thing particularly  interesting,  the  umbrella  would 
be  raised  over  the  two  heads,  and  when  it  was  low- 
ered again,  Mar's  Jack  looked  very  pleased  and 
Katie  very  blushing.  But,  of  course,  that  is  only  a 
conjecture  on  my  part. 

"I  am  a  very  good  pedestrian,"  said  Katie,  at  last, 
"but  after  I  have  walked  a  mile  or  two,  I  become 
slightly  weary." 


96  CALEB,    THE   IRREPKESSIBLE. 

Jack  laughed. 

"  Sarcasm  is  not  in  order.  Patience  is  a  virtue, 
my  dear  little  friend.  There !  look  through  the 
trees  and  behold  the  goal  of  your  aspirations." 

It  was  a  picturesque  spot  to  which  Mar's  Jack 
led  his  companion,  and,  looking  about  her,  Katie 
felt  well  repaid  for  her  long,  hot  walk  in  the  sun. 
The  church  was  a  low  stone  structure,  built  in  the 
form  of  a  cross.  It  was  situated  at  a  little  distance 
from  the  banks  of  a  pretty  winding  stream,  and  was 
half  hidden  from  view  by  the  dense  shade  trees. 

"  O  that  I  had  the  pencil  of  the  artist,"  said 
Katie,  earnestly,  as  she  entered  the  grave-yard.  "  I 
new  saw  a  prettier  or  more  picturesque-looking 
place. 

"  Come,  Mar's  Jack,  let  us  look  at  the  names 
upon  the  head-stones,"  she  added,  lowering  her  voice 
as  she  paused  at  a  little  grave. 

««  Katie  May. — Aged  2  years,  6  months,  10  days. 
"  She  is  not  dead  but  sleepeth." 

"Such  a  little  grave,  Mar's  Jack." 

"  Here  is  an  old  man's  grave  next  the  little  one," 
and  Jack  stooped  to  look  at  the  date.  "Ninety 
years  of  age.     A  long  life,  Katie." 

"  Yes,  and  yet  all  life  seems  short. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  97 

"  What  is  this  passing  scene, 
A  peevish  April  day, 
A  little  sun.  a  little  rain, 
And  then  night  sweeps  along  the  plain, 
And  all  things  fade  away. 
Man  soon  discussed, 
Yields  up  his  trust, 
And  all  his  hopes  and  fears 
Lie  with  him  in  the  dust," 

quoted  Katie,  softly,  looking  about  her. 

Many  of  the  grave-stones  had  fallen,  others  were 
covered  with  moss  and  clinging  branches  of  ivy, 
and  all  the  graves  seemed  neglected   and  forgotten. 

"  Do  you  know,"  she  added,  after  a  pause,  "  I  am 
always  so  happy,  and  life  seems  so  bright  and  real  to 
me,  and  yet  I  feel  very  strangely  in  a  place  like  this. 
And  I  wonder,  after  all,  if  this  world  is  not 

4  Vain  and  volatile  and  fleet.' 

Perhaps  if  this  is  only  the  shadow  we  shall  find  the 
substance  beyond." 

Mar's  Jack  placed  his  hand  under  her  chin  and 
raised  the  pretty  face  to  his  own. 

"  You  are  a  confirmed  little  moralizer,  I  do 
believe,"  he  said,  smiling  tenderly  down  into  the 
blue  eyes. 

"  Katie,"  he  added,  after  a  pause,  pointing  to  a 
long,  narrow  grave,  "Aunt  Ruth  lies  buried  here.'" 
G  * 


98  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie  glanced  at  the  white  stone  on  which  was 
engraven  only  the  name  "  Ruth,"  and  she  instinct- 
ively looked  down  at  the  ring  upon  her  finger.  How 
strange  it  seemed  that  beneath  this  earth  rested 
a  form  once  full  of  life,  and  health,  and  hope.  How 
often  had  Ruth  Templeton  looked  down,  blushingly, 
upon  this  same  little  ring,  the  seal  of  her  engage- 
ment. 

"  Another  stanza  from  your  poet,  Katie. 

"  The  most  beloved  of  earth, 
Not  long  survives  to-day, 
The  music  past  is  obsolete, 
And  yet  'twas  sweet,  'twas  passing  swee«, 
But  now  'tis  gone  away. 
Thus  does  the  shade 
In  memory  fade, 
When  in  the  forsaken  tomb 
The  form  beloved  is  laid," 

quoted  Mar's  Jack  in  a  low,  distinct  voice.  "  Life 
hardly  seems  worth  the  living.  Sooner  or  later  we 
all  come  to  this.  But  there,"  he  added,  quickly, 
turning  away,  "  Your  mood  is  infectious.  I  am 
growing  pessimistical.  We  will  not  indulge  in  such 
gloomy  reflections." 

"  Come,  Katie,"  tucking  her  arm  in  his,  "  we 
will  take  a  look  inside  the  old  church.  Don't  try  to 
run  ahead,  however,  for  this  place  is  reputed  to  have 


CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  99 

ghostly  visitors,  and  you  might  meet  one  of  these 
nocturnal  ramblers  out  for  a  day  stroll." 

"Dis  heah's  an  awful  lonesome  place,  ain't  it?" 
was  said  close  behind  them. 

"  A  voice  from  the  tombs,"  cried  Jack,  solemnly, 
turning  and  confronting  Caleb.  "  Well,  Katie,"  he 
added,  laughing,  "  I  have  heard  of  white  ghosts  be- 
fore, but  this  is  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  a  black  one. 
How  in  the  name  of  common  sense  did  you  get  here, 
Caleb  ?" 

Caleb  thrust  his  hands  into  his  pockets,  and 
looked  up  saucily. 

"  Reckon  I  done  got  two  legs  on  me.  I  walk, 
heah,  'hin'  you'n  Miss  Katie  all  de  way." 

"  O,  you  did!  Well,  I  reckon  as  you  have  two 
legs  on  you  you  can  walk  back  again  as  quickly  as 
you  please." 

Caleb  began  to  whimper,  his  braggadocio  air 
vanishing  quickly. 

"  Please  ter  let  me  stay  heah,  Mar's  Jack.  I 
aint'  gwine  ter  'fere  wid  youse  all  '  kissin,'  or 
nuffin." 

Jack  threw  back  his  head  and  laughed  merrily. 

"  Thank  you.  Well,  ask  Miss  Katie  if  you  can 
stay  upon  those  conditions." 

Caleb  looked  up  into  Katie's  face. 


100  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Miss  Katie's  so  pretty  I  know  she'll  let  me 
stay,"  said  the  artful  little  imp. 

Katie  laughed  and  consented,  and  Caleb  forth- 
with began  to  dance  a  jig  with  utter  disregard 
of  time  and  place. 

"  Well,  let's  proceed,"  and  Jack  unfastened  the 
church  door,  which  opened  with  a  creaking  sound. 

All  was  dark  and  silent  in  the  old  church,  so 
dark  and  so  silent  that  even  the  tick,  tick  of  the 
death-watch  could  be  heard  in  the  wall  near  them. 
Katie  crept  up  to  Mar's  Jack's  side,  and  even  Caleb 
drew  back  with  an  awed  feeling. 

The  declining  sun,  shining  down  through  the 
darkened  casement,  shed  a  ghostly  light  through  the 
old  place  ;  the  very  air  was  chilling.  It  seemed  a  fit- 
ting place  for  wandering  restless  spirits  from  another 
world.  Caleb  was  the  first  to  break  the  silence,  and 
was  soon  darting  in  and  out  among  the  straight,  high- 
backed  pews. 

There  was  a  large  sounding-board  over  the  pul- 
pit and  three  reading-desks,  one  above  the  other. 
Opposite  the  desks,  upon  a  stone  tablet  beneath  the 
choir,  were  engraven  the  names  of  the  first  pastor 
and  the  vestry  men.  Jack  pointed  out  the  old 
parson's  burial-place  under  the  chancel. 

"  How    strange  it   seems,"   said    Katie,   seating 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  101 

herself  in  one  of  the  pews  where  she  was  almost  hid- 
den from  view. 

"  I  wisht  we  had  sech  high  pews  inside  de  Bap- 
tis'  Church,  whar  my  mammy  takes  me  sometimes, 
den  I  could  play,  an'  sleep,  an'  hab  lots  o'  fun,  an' 
nobody  wouldn't  know  nuffin  bouten  it,"  and  Caleb 
examined  the  pew  with  much  interest,  seemingly 
much  impressed  with  the  advantages  possessed 
by  high-backed  pews  over  modern  ones. 

"  Come  over  in  the  north  end  of  the  church, 
Katie,"  said  Jack,  leading  the  way.  "  I  will  show  you 
the  scene  of  a  tragedy.  Do  you  see  this  dark  stain 
in  the  corner?  Murder  was  committed  here  one 
dark  night,  so  they  say." 

"O  dear  me,"  cried  Katie,  shuddering  and  glanc- 
ing over  her  shoulder,  "When  was  it  ?" 

"  O,  long  ago.  There  were  cries  of  help  one 
dark  night,  so  the  story  goes,  that  could  be  heard  for 
miles  around,  but  no  trace  was  ever  found  of  murderer 
or  victim  save  this  stain  upon  the  floor  and  the  por- 
tion of  a  sleeve,  as  if  torn  away  in  the  death- 
struggle." 

Katie  put  her  hands  over  her  ears. 

"  Do  hush,  Mar's  Jack  ;  you  make  my  hair  stand 
on  end  telling  me  such  stories  in  such  a  place. 
Can't  you  recall  a  more  cheerful  anecdote  ?" 


102  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  I  always  do  things  by  extremes,  so  come  over  to 
the  south  end  and  I  will  show  you  another  place  of 
interest.  You  know,  even  back  in  the  revolutionary 
times  this  old  church  was  standing,  and  it  was 
a  famous  hiding-place  for  the  soldiers.  Well,  the 
story  goes  that  a  certain  continental  soldier  was  hid- 
den away  in  this  old  church,  and  the  red  coats  had 
a  suspicion  of  it ;  so  they  crept  up  very  cautiously 
one  eve  in  order  to  surprise  him,  but  his  lady-love, 
who  had  taken  care  of  him,  slipped  around  here  by  a 
shorter  route  and  whistled  in  the  window,  this  one, 
a  tune  they  had  agreed  upon  in  case  of  danger.  Her 
lover  took  the  hint  and  put  out,  so  when  the  Red 
Coats  came  up  their  bird  had  flown." 

Katie  examined  the  window  with  much  inter- 
est. 

"  I  suppose  she  used  to  talk  to  him  through  this 
window,  and  hand  him  his  food  and — " 

"  Kiss  'im,"  put  in  Caleb. 

"Now  I  never  will  have  any  chance  to  do  any- 
thing like  that  for  you,  will  I,  Mar's  Jack  ?" 

Jack's  eyes  twinkled. 

"Kiss  me,  O  yes,  indeed,"  he  said,  wickedly, 
misconstruing  her  meaning. 

Katie  gave  him  a  withering  glance. 

"  Pooh !     You  know  I  didn't  mean  that.     But 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  103 

everything  is  so  practical  now-a-days.  Nothing 
romantic  like  this  ever  happens." 

Jack  twirled  the  corners  of  his  mustache  (a 
favorite  habit  of  his). 

"Well,  that  sounds  very  romantic  you  know,  but 
then  it  wouldn't  be  very  cheerful  to  hide  around  here 
all  day  with  the  rats  and  mice,  and  lie  down  at  night 
while  the  ghosts  were  having  prayer-meeting.  No, 
I  thank  you.  I  choose  to  be  practical  rather  than 
romantic ;  it  is  more  comfortable. 

"  But  changing  the  subject,  Katie,  mother  was 
married  in  this  old  church  ;  I  was  baptized  here ; 
father  was  buried  from  it ;  and  the  first  wedding  I  ever 
saw  was  in  this  old  building.  I  remember  thinking 
it  very  like  a  funeral,  for  the  lady  was  dressed  all  in 
black,  and  the  groom  was  in  the  last  stages  of  con- 
sumption. I  determined  then  never  to  get  married. 
You  can  see  how  well  I  keep  my  resolutions,"  look- 
ing at  her  roguishly. 

"  Who  was  married  and  what  made  her  dress  in 
black  ?  Such  a  queer  wedding,  Mar's  Jack.  What 
did  she  marry  that  man  for?" 

Jack  laughed. 

"  You  are  a  true  Yankee.  You  can  not  hide 
where  you  came  from." 

Katie  tossed  her  head. 


104  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  And  I  have  no  desire  to  do  so.  I  am  very- 
proud  of  my  birth-place." 

Jack  laughed  again. 

"Good !  You  will  be  able  to  stand  your  ground 
in  this  world. 

"But  now  for  your  questions. 

"  Firstly,  Who  was  married  ?     My  aunt. 

"  Secondly,  I  went  because,  not  being  of  age 
at  that  time  I  could  not  help  myself. 

"  Thirdly,  I  can  not  answer,  that  being  her  own 
private  affair.     Can  I  be  of  service  further  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir — Please  try  and  be  sensible." 

Jack  bowed. 

"  It  will  be  hard  work,  but  I'll  do  my  best. 

"  But  come,  mademoiselle,  it  is  growing  late. 
And  if  we  do  not  hurry  we  shall  have  more  company 
than  we  desire.  I  am  not  fond  of  these  ghostly 
ramblers,  myself,  so  let  us  away  to  less  romantic, 
but  more  cheerful  quarters.  " 

They  were  startled  by  the  sound  of  horses'  hoofs 
as  they  left  the  graveyard,  and  two  horsemen  came 
dashing  down  the  road. 

"  Jack  Templeton,  as  I'm  alive,"  cried  one,  as 
they  reined  in  their  steeds. 

"  Helloa,  Fairfax,"  said  Jack,   coming   forward. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  105 

His  face  changed  expression,  slightly  as  he  saw 
Wilton's  companion. 

"  My  friend,  Mr.  Ashely,  Miss  Lee.  I  believe 
you  have  met  Fairfax ;  the  reprobate,"  laughed 
Wilton. 

Katie  smiled  and  held  out  her  hand  to  Wil- 
ton, after  recognizing  his  companion,  who,  she  de- 
termined at  a  glance,  was  very  handsome.  Ashely  ? 
Where  had  she  heard  the  name  before  ? 

"  You  have  chosen  a  cheerful  place  for  a  ramble," 
laughed  Wilton.  "Thinking  of  entering  the  minis- 
try, Templeton  ?  " 

"  If  I  do  I  will  set  about  trying  to  effect  your 
reformation  the  first  thing.  You  need  it  about  as 
badly  as  any  one  I  know  of.  " 

"  There,  I  did  not  mean  to  call  down  your  right- 
eous indignation  upon  my  poor  head.  But  can 
you  not  find  a  more  cheerful  place  for  a  stroll? 
Picturesque  though,  isn't  it,  Ashely?" 

"  Very,"  answered  his  companion,  looking  about 
him  with  an  artist's  eye,  "  I  must  come  around  this 
way  with  my  pencil." 

"  Yes,  come  and  paint  up  some  ghosts,  "  answer- 
ed Wilton,  jokingly,  "  they  say  thesre  are  plenty  of 
them  about  here.  " 


106  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Mar's  Jack  nebber  intrerduced  me  ter  de  com- 
p'ny, "  grinned  Caleb,  who  was  irreverently  sitting 
astride  a  tombstone,  and  whittling  away  at  a  stick. 

"  O,  I  beg  your  pardon,  "  said  Jack,  after  the 
laugh  that  followed,  had  somewhat  subsided. 
"  Gentlemen  this  is  an  abnormal  ghost,  discovered 
by  Miss  Lee  and  myself  this  afternoon.  Something 
out  of  the  usual  order,  black,  you  see.  Answers  to 
the  name  of  Caleb — offered  for  sale  cheap.  " 

Ashely  and  Fairfax  lifted  their  hats,  and  the 
latter  said  laughingly, 

"  Aunt  Dinah  was  looking  for  a  certain  black 
ghost  a  while  ago.  I  think  she  had  a  little  gymnas- 
tic exercise  in  store  for  him  in  the  shape  of  a  leather 
strap.  By  the  by,  Templeton,  "  he  added  turning 
to  Jack,  "  We  have  just  returned  from  Woodburn. 
Left  something  for  Miss  Lee  and  yourself.  Belle 
has  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  her  forefathers  or 
foremothers  rather." 

Katie's  eyes  opened  wide. 

"  Has  Belle  run  away  ?  " 

Wilton  laughed. 

"  No,  she  has  not  absconded  as  yet.  But  she  so  in- 
tends.   In  other  words  she  is  going  to  be  married." 

"  Oh ! "  said  Katie  in  a  relieved  tone. 

"  May  I  ask  to  whom,  Mr.  Fairfax  ?  " 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  107 

"  Hal  Fitzhugh. 

"  Change  the  name  and  not  the  letter,  change 
for  worse  and  not  for  better,  we  tell  her.  But  she 
says  she'll  risk  it.     Rash  girl  isn't  she  ?  " 

"  Very,"  answered  Jack  solemnly,  "  Well  gen- 
tlemen," he  added,  assuming  a  despairing  attitude, 
"  It  is  like  tearing  my  heart  strings  to  leave  you, 
but  I  feel  it  my  bounden  duty  to  break  up  this 
pleasant  little  party,  as  I  have  no  desire  to  be  ram- 
bling about  this  place  after  dark.  " 

"  My  respects  to  your  sisters,  Fairfax, "  he  called 
after  them,  as  the  gentlemen  rode  away. 

"  How  quiet  Mr.  Ashely  was, "  said  Katie  as 
they  turned  into  the  road,  "Is  he  a  friend  of 
yours,  Mar's  Jack  ?  " 

Again  Katie  saw  the  expression  of  annoyance 
come  into  Jack's  face. 

"  O,  I  know  him  slightly.  He  is  an  artist  I  be- 
lieve, from  the  North  some  where.  Visits  at  Belle- 
vue  quite  often.  I  never  fancied  him  particularly. 
Old  prejudices,  most  likely. 

"But  look,  Katie,"  he  added,  as  if  glad  to 
change  the  subject.     "  Here  comes  Miss  Tessy." 

And  sure  enough,  Miss  Tessy,  donkey,  cart  and 
all,  came  jogging  down  the  road. 

"  Observe  this  beautiful  vehicle  closely,  Katie, 


108  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

you  may  want  the  pattern,"  said  Jack,  in  an  under- 
tone as  Miss  Tessy,  smiling  and  bobbing  her  head 
energetically,  drove  up  to  them. 

"  Superb,  isn't  it  ?  Like  Miss  Tessy,  a  relic 
of  antiquity." 

"  Jack,  do  be  still ;  she  will  see  us  laughing." 

"  Fine  day,"  put  in  Miss  Tessy. 

"  Very,"  answered  Jack,  aloud.  "  Look  at  the 
artistic  arrangements  of  the  interior,  Katie,"  low- 
ering his  voice. 

But  Katie  gave  him  a  reproving  glance,  although 
she  fully  agreed  with  Mar's  Jack  that  the  donkey- 
cart  presented  a  very  peculiar  appearance.  Why  it 
was  designated  as  a  cart  I  do  not  know  ;  probably 
for  convenience  sake ;  as,  judging  from  its  appear- 
ance, any  name  might  be  given  it  with  impunity. 
The  lower  portion  was  of  rough  pine  boards,  painted, 
originally,  brown,  while  a  dilapidated  leather  top 
shaded  Miss  Tessy  from  the  too  ardent  rays  of 
the  sun  in  Summer,  and  proved  some  slight  protec- 
tion from  the  winds  in  cold  weather.  The  seat  was 
broad  and  low,  and  was  covered  with  green  baize, 
while  faded  green  curtains  flapped  at  the  sides, 
seeming  to  vie  with  Miss  Tessy's  curls  in  coquetting 
with  the  breeze. 

"  Well,  what's  the  news  ?"  asked  that  lady,  after 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  109 

a  pause.  "  Whoa,  Billy  !"  she  added  to  the  donkey, 
who  always  found  it  necessary  to  walk  on  if  Miss 
Tessy  desired  to  stop. 

"  O,  nothing  in  particular,  Miss  Tessy,  I  believe," 
answered  Jack,  placing  his  hand  on  Billy's  rein 
to  check  him  in  his  "  mad  career." 

"  Belle  Fairfax's  wedding,  Mar's  Jack,"  said 
Katie. 

Jack  nudged  her,  but  it  was  too  late. 

"  La,  me !  Is  Balle  Fairfax  going  to  get  mar- 
ried !  I  must  fix  up  ray  green  silk.  Dear,  dear  me  ! 
Who  is  the  other  one?"  smiling  coquettishly,  and 
giving  Mar's  Jack  a  poke  with  her  sun-shade,  "  the 
man  you  know.     Who  is  he  ?" 

"  O,  what  a  '  slip  of  the  tongue  !'  Kit.  The  girls 
never  invite  Miss  Tessy  to  anything,"  whispered 
Jack ;  "  they  will  scold  you  unmercifully.  Miss 
Fairfax  is  going  to  marry  Hal  Fitzhugh,"  he  added, 
aloud. 

Miss  Tessy  tucked  her  head  upon  one  side. 

"  Now  you  don't  tell  me.  Well !  well !  His 
father  was  an — an  old  beau  of  mine,"  she  said, 
laughing  coyly ;  "  but  don't  mention  it,  please." 

"  O,  not  for  the  world !"  declared  Jack,  sol- 
emnly. "  Your  confidence  is  sacred  to  me.  Miss 
Tessy.     There  is  not  a  man  in  old  '  Virgiuny'  who 


110  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

wasn't  a  beau  of  Miss  Tessy's  at  some  time  or 
other,  according  to  her  account, "  he  added,  in  an 
undertone  to  Katie. 

"  Well,  now,"  continued  Miss  Tessy,  "  that  does 
seem  good  to  hear  of  a  wedding  once  more.  I  must 
go  up  to  Bellevue.  But,  dear  me,  how  late  it  is 
growing.  I  will  have  to  hurry  on.  I  hope  you 
have  been  good  to-day,"  handing  them  each  a  tract. 

"  O,  certainly.  I  have  just  returned  with  my 
friends  here  from  church,"  answered  Jack,  bestow- 
ing a  sly  wink  upon  Katie. 

"  That's  right,  that's  right,"  she  nodded,  approv- 
ingly. "  Get  up,  Billy  !  I  never  saw  such  a  donkey 
as  this,"  she  added,  despairingly,  as  Billy  gave  not 
the  slightest  heed.     "  Get  up,  Billy  !" 

All  Miss  Tessy's  commands  were  fruitless,  how- 
ever, and  at  last  Jack,  taking  matters  into  his  own 
hands,  slyly  thrust  a  pin  into  Billy's  side,  at  which 
the  little  fellow  threw  up  his  hind  legs  and  actually, 
for  once  in  his  life,  dashed  away,  frightening  Miss 
Tessy  nearly  out  of  her  wits. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE  111 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

"It  is  the  little  rifts  within  the  lute, 
That  by  and  by  will  make  the  music  mute." 

A  WEDDING  in  old  Virginia  before  the  war  was 
-*—*-  a  very  important  event,  not  only  to  the  con- 
tracting parties  but  also  to  the  invited  guests,  for 
the  festivities  were  usually  prolonged  for  ten  or 
twelve  days — music,  dancing — in  fact,  every  kind  of 
amusement  conceivable  was  indulged  in,  so  much 
enjoyment  was  anticipated,  and  great  was  the  ex- 
citement which  prevailed  among  the  young  people 
over  Belle  Fairfax's  wedding.  Katie  was  to  be  one 
of  the  ten  bride's- maids,  and  her  whole  time  was  oc- 
cupied for  the  next  week  or  so  in  trying  on  and 
fitting  various  articles  of  feminine  apparel  until 
Jack  declared  that  she  would  be  ruffled,  hemmed, 
flounced  out  of  all  existence.  Great  was  the  confu- 
sion at  Woodburn.  Various  expeditions  were  made 
into  town,  and  Jack  appeared  with  numerous  parcels 
at  all  hours  of  the  day. 

Even  Caleb  took  part  in  the  general  preparations. 
For  after  he  had  teased  Mar's  Jack  incessantly,  and 


112  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

all  to  no  purpose,  to  let  him  go  up  to  "  de  weddin'  " 
(a  request  he  would  never  have  dared  to  make  if 
Aunt  Dinah  had  not  been  going),  Katie  had  taken 
matters  into  her  own  hands  and  had  arranged  with 
Belle  Fairfax,  who  entered  readily  into  the  joke, 
that  Caleb  should  go. 

So  Mar's  Jack  was  silenced  when  Caleb  received 
an  invitation  directed  to  Master  Caleb  Templeton, 
and  Cabe's  delight  knew  no  bounds. 

He  washed  his  little  feet  every  day,  for  two 
weeks,  in  order  to  have  them  in  wedding  trim  ;  and 
his  cup  of  happiness  was  full  to  overflowing  when 
Katie  sent  to  town  for  a  pair  of  red-topped  boots, 
and  Mrs.  Templeton  made  him  a  very  neat  little 
suit  out  of  one  of  Jack's  old  ones. 

"I's  gwine  ter  be  quite  a  gen'leman,  ain't  I 
mammy  ?  "  he  queried  delightedly,  as  he  sat  washing 
his  feet,  preparatory  to  trying  on  the  new  boots. 

"Scrub  dem  hoofs  clean,  an'  keep  yo'  mouf 
shut,"  was  all  the  answer  Aunt  Dinah  condescended 
to  give. 

"  I  guess  dese  heah  las'  few  weeks  am  de  fus' 
time  I  eber  had  my  foots  washed  in  my  life,  ain't  it, 
mammy  ?  " 

Aunt  Dinah  looked  up  with  a  very  injured  air. 

"  'Deed,  an'  it  ain't,  den,  chile.     Wen  you  's  a 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  113 

baby,  I  usen  ter  wash  you  once  or  twict  ebery  monf. 
'Deed,  you 's  bery  clean  w'en  I  tuken  charge  ob  you. 
You  's  so  big  now  I  can't  tend  ter  you." 

Caleb  sat  very  silent  a  few  moments,  and  then 
he  looked  up  with  a  bright  expression  in  his  little 
face. 

"  Does  you  reckon,  mammy,  ef  I  scrubbed  bery 
hard  fur  a  long,  long  time,  dat  I  could  maken  me 
white,  liken  Mar's  Jack  an'  Miss  Katie  ?  " 

"  No,  chile,"  said  Aunt  Dinah,  shaking  her  head 
slowly.  "  God  made  you  dat  a-way,  an'  no  amount 
o'  scrubbin'  'ill  help  it.  Ef  you  's  bery  good  do', 
you'll  be  white  up  in  Hebben,  sho's  you  's  born. " 

"  Dat 's  awful  po'  comfut,"  said  the  little  fellow, 
disconsolately,  "  'kase  you  all 's  alius  tellin'  me  how 
bad  I  is,  an'  I  nebber  'spec's  ter  gitten  up  ter 
Hebben." 

Aunt  Dinah's  heart  was  touched. 

"  'Deed,  chile,  I  reckon  you 's  got  'bout  as  good 
a  chance  ob  gittin'  dar  as  any  ob  us.  We  's  all  sin- 
ful cre'turs.  But  hurry  up  an'  try  on  dem  boots ! 
I 's  bery  anxious  ter  see  how  dey  's  gwine  ter  look 
on  you." 

And  very  proud  she  was  of  her  boy  when,  a  few 

days  afterward,  he  sat  mounted  upon  the  carriage 

beside    Pompey,    the    red-topped    boots    gleaming 
H  5* 


114  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

brightly  in  the  sun.  Aunt  Dinah  herself  (who,  be- 
ing far-famed  as  a  cook,  was  to  attend  to  the  eake- 
making  for  the  coming  festivities)  was  gayly  attired 
in  a  heavy  red  woolen  shawl.  She  possessed  two 
articles  which  were  her  heart's  delight,  and  without 
the  one  or  the  other  of  these,  she  never  appeared  in 
public,  viz.,  the  aforementioned  shawl  and  a  huge 
palm-leaf  fan.     To  Katie's  query  : 

"  Aunty,  why  in  the  world  did  you  wear  that 
shawl  ?  You  will  positively  melt  before  we  reach 
Bellevue," 

She  answered,  as  if  astonished  at  such  a  question, 

"  La,  honey,  I  couldn't  fin'  my  fan.  I  alius  takes 
one  or  de  odder  w'en  I  goes  callin'  on  de  qual'ty." 

The  ride  to  Bellevue  was  accomplished  without 
incident,  and  they  were  heartily  welcomed  upon 
their  arrival. 

"lam  ever  so  glad  you  have  come,"  said  Jessie 
Fairfax,  kissing  first  Mrs.  Templeton  and  then  Katie 
very  warmly,  at  which  Mar's  Jack  slyly  asked  her 
if  she  intended  to  favor  the  company. 

"  Oh,  certainly,"  she  answered  roguishly,  putting 
up  her  red  lips,  but  jumping  away  just  in  time  to 
elude  him. 

"Never  mind;  Miss  Jessie,  I '11  have  that  kiss 
yet,"  he  said,  shaking  his  finger  at  her. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  115 

"If  you  can  get  it,"  she  answered,  laughingly, 
and  leading  the  way  into  the  house.  "  Come  right 
up  stairs,  Katie.  Mamma  will  attend  to  the  rest  of 
the  party.  You  will  have  to  put  up  with  ever  so 
many  inconveniences,  for  the  house  is  just  full. 
Fifty  arrivals  this  week,  and  more  expected.  Of 
course  they  won't  all  of  them  stay  as  long  as  the 
younger  set  will ;  but  of  course  we  will  be  terribly 
crowded  for  a  week  or  two.  Do  you  mind  sleeping 
four  in  a  bed  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed,"  laughed  Katie  ;  "  I  am  ready  for 
any  amount  of  fun." 

"  Well,  here  is  the  beginning  of  it,"  said  Jessie, 
ushering  her  into  a  whole  roomful  of  merry  girls, 
seated  about  the  room  in  various  postures,  more 
comfortable  than  graceful  perhaps,  and  chattering 
together  like  magpies. 

"  My  friend,  Miss  Lee,  girls,"  said  Jessie,  by  way 
of  introduction. 

After  the  usual  greetings,  a  place  was  made  for 
Katie  upon  one  corner  of  the  bed,  and  the  chatter- 
ing, interrupted  by  their  entrance,  was  resumed 
with  renewed  vigor. 

"  I  think  Belle's  trousseau  is  just  lovely ;  don't 
you?" 

"Came  from  New  York,  didn't  it,  Jessie?  " 


116  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  That  is  just  a  love  of  a  white  bonnet — ever  so 
much  prettier  than  Daisy  Mossgrove's  ?  " 

"  Are  the  Ellertons  coming  ?  " 

"Yes,  Phil's  home  from  the  Academy  on  a  fur- 
lough.    Looks  just  splendid  in  his  new  uniform." 

"  Look  sharp,  Cad  or  you  will  be  in  danger  of 
losing  your  cavalier,"  chimed  in  Lucy  Burton,  with 
a  glance  at  Cad  Nelson,  a  pretty  girl,  with  bright 
hazel  eyes,  and  an  abundance  of  long  golden 
hair. 

"  Is  our  artist  here,  Jessie  ? "  asked  Cad  not 
deigning  to  reply  to  Lucy's  impertinence. 

"  O,  yes,  he  has  been  here  some  time — " 

"  Say  girls,  Kit  Perkins  said  he  took  her 
hand  and  arm  as  a  model  in  his  painting  of  '  Cleo- 
patra. '     Do  you  believe  it?  " 

"No — she  tells  dreadful  fibs,"  said  Cad  Nelson, 
contemptuously. 

"  Well,  she  has  a  lovely  arm,"  put  in  one  of  the 
others,  charitably. 

"I  am  surprised  he  did  not  request  my  arm  as  a 
model,"  said  Lucy  Burton,  mischievously,  displaying 
her  thin  arm,  much  to  the  merriment  of  the  others, 
for  Lucy's  nick-name  among  the  girls  was  "Bones," 
a  name  much  more  expressive  than  elegant. 

"  Or   my   nose,  as   being   something   celestially 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  117 

inclined,  "  said  Cad  Nelson,  rubbing  that  much 
abused  pug. 

Just  at  this  juncture  the  announcement  that  sup- 
per would  be  ready  in  five  minutes,  caused  a  great 
commotion,  as  there  was  much  dressing  and  "primp- 
ing" to  be  done,  'ere  they  could  make  a  presentable 
appearance. 

Very  pretty  Katie  looked  in  the  lavender  mus- 
lin, with  pansies  at  her  throat  and  in  her  hair,  "  the 
observed  of  all  observers,  "  even  among  so  many  ac- 
knowledged beauties.  She  laughed  and  chatted, 
talked  and  sang,  and  indeed  was  quite  the  belle  of 
the  evening.  But  she  grew  wearied  at  last,  and 
slipping  away  from  her  numerous  attendants,  sought 
a  quiet  place  out  on  the  veranda. 

To  tell  the  truth,  she  was  slightly  piqued  at 
Mar's  Jack,  which  was  exactly  the  state  of  mind 
that  gentleman  had  been  desirous  of  producing  in 
his  fair  little  fiancee  ;  for  Katie  had  been  flirting 
shamefully  all  the  evening,  seeming  to  have  forgot- 
ten Mar's  Jack's  very  existence. 

So  that  gentleman,  after  standing  about  rather 
glumly  for  an  hour  or  so,  finally  devoted  himself 
quite  assiduously  to  Jessie  Fairfax  by  way  of  re- 
venge. 

Katie   felt   piqued ;    utterly   ignoring   her    own 


118  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

shortcomings,  and  she  determined,  as  she  stood  idly 
tapping  her  little  slipper  against  the  step,  to  return 
in  a  very  short  time,  and  make  new  conquests. 

"You  seem  to  prefer  solitude,  Miss  Lee,"  and 
looking  up  she  recognized  the  handsome  face  of  the 
young  artist. 

Here  was  an  opportunity  for  revenge  upon  Mar's 
Jack. 

"  Ono!"  she  answered  quickly.  "  On  the  con- 
trary, I  much  prefer  pleasant  company.  Will  you 
have  a  seat  ?  " 

"  Thank  you.  A  very  pretty  compliment,  and 
paid  in  a  very  graceful  manner,"  he  answered;  seat- 
ing himself  beside  her.  "  I  was  rather  surprised  at 
finding  you  alone,  seeing  you  so  surrounded  by  ad- 
mirers but  a  short  time  ago." 

"  I  was  slightly  weary.  One  becomes  tired  of 
so  many  people,  and  of  so  much  excitement  and 
often  prefers  to  be  alone,"  she  said,  absently,  forget- 
ting the  empty  compliment  she  had  paid  him  but  a 
moment  since. 

He  smiled  slightly  at  her  inconsistency,  but  other- 
wise took  no  notice  of  her  remark. 

"  So  you  don't  enjoy  tripping  the  light  fantastic 
toe,  Miss  Lee  ?  " 

"  O,  indeed  I  do.    I  would  rather  dance  than  do 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  119 

anything  else  in  the  world,"  she  said  enthusias- 
tically. 

"  There  is  my  favorite  waltz.  May  I  ask  you  to 
dance  with  me  in  the  library.  We  can  have  the 
room  all  to  ourselves." 

"  Certainly,  Mr.  Ashely.  I  could  dance  all 
night,"  she  said,  jumping  up  from  the  steps. 

"  Miss  Lee,"  looking  down  into  the  blue  eyes, 
as  they  stood  under  the  archway  in  the  library. 
"  You  are  inconsistent  to-night.  You  say  at  one 
moment  that  you  are  very  weary,  and  at  the  next 
that  you  could  dance  all  night.  Pardon  me,  but 
the  two  statements  are  slightly  opposed  to  one  an- 
other." 

"  I  am  always  inconsistent,  as  you  will  find  upon 
better  acquaintance,"  she  answered,  with  a  little 
nervous  laugh;  and  the  next  moment  they  were 
whirling  away  with  many  a  "  winding  bout." 
Around  and  around  the  room  they  flew,  Katie's 
feet  scarce  touching  the  floor,  so  lightly  did  she 
move. 

"  That  was  Heaven,  Miss  Katie.  May  I  have 
another?"  he  asked,  after  they  had  rested  a  moment. 

"  Your  ideas  of  Heaven  are  exalted,"  she 
answered,  laughingly.  "  Certainly,"  in  answer  to 
his  question,  for  her  partner  was  a  good  waltzer,  and 


120  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

she  enjoyed  it  fully  as  much  as  did  he.  Even  after 
the  music  ceased  did  they  dance  until  Katie,  ex- 
hausted, sank  into  a  chair,  with  cheeks  glowing  and 
eyes  shining  with  excitement,  while  Ashely  leaned 
over  her  chair,  fanning  her  gently.  She  seemed 
under  the  influence  of  some  spell  to-night.  It  was  a 
handsome  face  that  bent  over  her.  The  eyes  were 
dark  and  expressive,  and  the  voice  was  low  and 
musical.  Mar's  Jack,  for  the  first  time,  seemed  for- 
gotten. 

"Miss  Katie,"  said  Ashely,  suddenly  breaking 
off  in  the  midst  of  a  story  he  was  relating,  "  I  would 
give  anything  I  possess  to  be  able  to  sketch  your 
face  as  you  look  at  present.  "  Pardon  me,"  he 
added,  checking  himself ;  "  but  remember  that  I  am 
an  artist  with  an  artist's  appreciation  of  the  beau- 
tiful." 

Katie's  lashes  drooped  with  a  pretty  show  of 
confusion,  but  she  recovered  herself  instantly. 

"O,  an  artist  can  perceive  a  trace  of  the  beauti- 
ful in  almost  everything,"  she  said,  laughingly. 

"  But  in  this  case,"  began  Ashely,  but  inter- 
rupted himself  abruptly,  "  there,  I  dislike  flattery. 
I  don't  pretend  to  be  a  Raphael,  Miss  Lee, " 
with  a  smile.  "  In  fact,  I  am  not  an  artist  by  pro- 
fession, merely  sketching  during  my  leisure  hours. 


CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  121 

But,"  turning  to  her,  "  you  have  not  answered  my 
question. " 

"  I  think,"  she  began,  hesitatingly,  "  that  you — " 

"  I  seed  youse  two  dancin '  'bout  dis  room,  an' 
I'se  gwine  ter  tell  Mar's  Jack  how  youse  'havin',"  in- 
terrupted a  voice  at  the  window,  at  which  they  both 
started  and  looked  up,  but  no  one  was  to  be  seen. 

"  Spirits,"  laughed  Ashely ;  but  Katie  felt  un- 
easy.    Perhaps  she  had  not  acted  discreetly. 

"  We  had  better  go  into  the  drawing-room,"  she 
said,  quickly. 

"Just  as  you  wish,"  offering  her  his  arm  arid 
leading  the  way  to  the  drawing-room,  where  the 
guests  were  separating  for  the  night. 

"O,  Katie,  what  shall  I  do?  I  am  in  a  dreadful 
dilemma,"  exclaimed  Jessie  Fairfax,  despairingly,  as 
they  were  going  up-stairs  that  evening. 

"  Why,  what's  the  matter  ?  Have  the  skies 
fallen?"  questioned  Katie,  playfully,  amused  at  Jes- 
sie's woe-begone  countenance. 

"  No,  worse  than  that ;  Miss  Tessy,  donkey,  cart 
and  all,  have  dropped  down  upon  us  in  full  force. 
Now  I  know  where  to  put  one  donkey  (there  I 
musn't  be  disrespectful),  but  Miss  Tessy,  I  am  sure, 
can  not  be  provided  for.  Sleeping  apartments  are 
so  in  demand   at   present   that   we   can  not  afford 


122  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

to  give  her  one  all  to  herself,  and  none  of  the  girls 
will  room  with  her.  I  wonder  how  she  found 
out  about  the  wedding." 

Katie's  face  assumed  a  penitent  expression. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  will  have  to  plead  guilty  to  giving 
her  the  information.  I  will  do  penance,  however, 
by  rooming  with  her.     Will  that  do  ?" 

"  You  dear,  sweet,  lovely  girl,  I  knew  you  would 
help  me  out,"  cried  Jessie,  hugging  her  energeti- 
cally. "  I  will  give  you  my  room  and  make  you 
as  comfortable  as  possible.  I  have  to  curl  up  on  a 
lounge  in  mamma's  room  myself." 

An  hour  later  Katie  sat  on  the  bed  in  a  loose, 
white  wrapper,  with  the  wavy  dark  hair  falling  over 
her  shoulders,  watching  Miss  Tessy  unpack  the 
numerous  satchels  and  band-boxes  around  her. 

"This  is  my  trousseau,  dear,"  laughed  Miss 
Tessy,  coyly.  "  Indeed,  I  did  have  my  wedding 
clothes  all  made  up  once,"  she  added,  confidentially, 
"  and  the  wedding  night  the  young  man  ran  off  with 
another  girl.  I  would  not  have  cared  so  much,  for 
he  was  a  very  poky,  uninteresting  young  man,  but 
my  clothes  were  all  marked  with  his  name,  and  of 
course  were  of  no  use  to  me.  I  made  the  best 
of  matters,  however,"  she  added,  laughing  at  her  own 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  123 

shrewdness,  "  and  sold  them  to  the  girl  he  married  ; 
so  you  see  I  did  not  lose  much  after  all." 

"Don't  you  think  this  is  beautiful,"  she  asked, 
after  a  pause,  displaying  a  brilliant  green  silk 
covered  with  black  dots  ? 

"  It  is  of  very  fine  texture,  is  it  not?  "  queried 
Katie,  evasively. 

"  Yes,  indeed.  I  never  wear  anything  but  nice 
clothes — old-fashioned,  my  dear,  but  very,  very  nice. 
You  see,  I  have  to  be  economical  now,"  with  a  little 
sigh.  "  Things  are  not  as  they  were  when  I  was 
young  and  pretty.  Here  is  my  picture,"  she  added, 
diving  down  into  the  satchel  and  bringing  up  an 
old-fashioned  miniature,  which  she  handed  to  Katie. 

The  face  was  a  very  pretty,  winning  one,  and  as 
Katie  looked  first  at  it  and  then  at  Miss  Tessy's 
wizened  countenance,  striving  to  trace  some  resem- 
blance between  them,  she  involuntarily  glanced  at 
her  own  lovely  face  in  the  mirror  opposite,  and  won- 
dered if  time  would  work  as  great  a  change  in  her. 

Miss  Tessy  was  not  very  old.  She  could  not 
have  been  over  forty-nine  or  fifty  at  the  most, 
despite  Jack's  declaration  that  she  was  antediluvian. 
But  her  face  was  one  of  those  which  looks  old  be- 
fore its  time — thin  and  small-featured,  and  the  nose 


124  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

and  chin  seemed  to  have  a  great  affinity  for  each 
other. 

Miss  Tessy  noticed  Katie's  look,  and  interpreted 
its  meaning. 

"  Not  much  like  me  now,  dear,  is  it  ?  "  with  a 
slight  touch  of  sadness  in  her  voice.  "  Well,  they 
laugh  at  me,  and  think  me  a  queer  little  woman  ; 
but  I  was  not  always  uncared  for.  I  was  once  as 
young  and  as  pretty  as  you  are,  my  dear,"  she  added 
with  a  sigh.     "  We  must  all  grow  old,  my  dear." 

Katie's  heart  was  touched.  She  had  always  felt 
inclined  to  laugh  at  Miss  Tessy  ;  but  even  this  queer, 
eccentric  little  body  wanted  to  be  loved  and  cared 
for.  She  threw  her  arms  about  Miss  Tessy's  neck, 
in  her  sweet,  impulsive  way. 

"  Won't  you  let  me  love  you  ?  "  she  asked,  kiss- 
ing the  wrinkled  cheek. 

Miss  Tessy  kissed  the  red  lips  in  return,  and  they 
sat  silent  a  few  moments,  Katie's  soft  cheek  pressed 
against  the  wrinkled  one.  Then  Miss  Tessy  said 
gently : 

"  I  am  very  selfish,  dear,  to  keep  you  up  so  late. 
You  must  go  to  bed." 

Miss  Tessy's  preparations  for  retiring  were  very 
extensive.  She  always  slept,  surrounded  by  pillows, 
and  held  a  palm-leaf  fan  in  one  hand,  and  a  little 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  125 

satchel  contaiiv'ig  her  handkerchief,  smelling  salts 
and  prayer-book,  in  the  other. 

When  Katie  was  curled  up  in  bed,  Miss  Tessy 
sat  down  by  the  table  : 

"  I  always  read  one  of  Saurin's  sermons  every 
night.     Shall  I  read  out  loud,  dear  ?  ". 

"  Yes  'm,"  answered  Katie,  suppressing  a  sigh. 
And  Miss  Tessy  forthwith  began  to  read  ;  but  before 
she  was  half-way  down  the  page,  Katie  was  fast 
asleep. 


126  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


"Oh,  what  a  tangled  web  we  weave, 
When  first  we  practice  to  deceive." 


A  WHOLE  week  of  gayety  passed  away,  and  the 
-*--*-  wedding  day  dawned  bright  and  clear.  The 
whole  party  were  to  drive  over  to  the  old  church, 
where  the  ceremony  was  to  take  place,  after  which 
came  the  wedding  dinner  at  Bellevue,  and  to  crown 
all,  the  grand  reception  in  the  evening.  Mrs.  Fair- 
fax had  sent  a  small  organ  over  to  the  church,  and 
the  old  building  had  been  prettily  decorated  with 
flowers.  Very  lovely  the  bride  and  bride's-maids 
looked,  all  in  pure  white,  and  among  the  loveliest 
was  our  Katie,  in  her  white  tulle,  with  tea-roses 
resting  against  the  dark  shining  hair. 

"  '  I  never  saw  a  fairer,  I  never  lo'ed  a  dearer,'  " 
whispered  Mar's  Jack,  forgiving  all  of  her  short- 
comings of  the  past  week,  as  he  handed  her  into  the 
carriage. 

Miss  Tessy  was  there,  resplendent  in  the  green 
silk,  with  the  black  dots,  while  a  lace  shawl  was 
arranged  artistically  over  the  cork-screw  curls,  and 
she  carried  a  crimson  plush  fan  in  her  hand. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  127 

The  donkey  was  there  also ;  but  Miss  Tessy  did 
not  intend  to  drive  nim  on  this  bright  morning,  if 
she  could  help  it. 

"  Girls,"  she  said  in  her  blandest  tones,  look- 
ing into  the  carriage  in  which  Katie  was  sitting, 
"  wouldn't  one  of  you  like  to  change  places  with 
me?  Billy  is  mighty  gentle,  and  then  you  would 
not  be  so  apt  to  crush  your  dresses  in  there  alone  as 
you  will,  crowded  in  this  carriage.  Indeed,  I  think 
one  of  you  would  enjoy  driving  Billy,  wouldn't 
you?"  and  Miss  Tessy  looked  pleadingly  into  the 
four  bright  faces.  But  the  girls  exchanged  glances, 
and  did  not  seem  inclined  to  answer. 

"How  can  you  resist  such  an  offer?"  put  in 
Lucy  Burton,  in  an  undertone.  "  Just  think  !  she 
will  trust  one  of  us  to  drive  the  charming  Billy, 
whose  speed  is  so  great  that  you  will  probably 
arrive  at  the  church  about  the  time  the  Bishop  is 
pronouncing  '  Fitzie '  and  Belle,  man  and  wife. 
'Tis  a  golden  opportunity,  '  one  that  may  never 
return.'  Girls,  let  me  beseech  you  not  to  let  it  slip 
from  your  grasp." 

Lucy's  speech  was  greeted  with  a  burst  of 
laughter. 

"  What  are  you  laughing  at,  girls?"  asked  Miss 
Tessy,  anxiously. 


128  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Lucy  put  her  mouth  close  to  Miss  Tessy's  ear. 

"  O,  don't  mind  these  girls,  they  are  very  silly  ; 
giggle  at  everything.  I  was  merely  enumerating 
Billy's  good  qualities,  and  they  laughed.  Very 
foolish,  are  they  not  ?" 

Miss  Tessy  nodded,  incredulously,  and  the  girls 
laughed  louder  than  ever. 

"  Then,  girls,"  continued  Lucy,  in  the  same 
undertone,  "you  will  find  the  knitting  and  the 
tracts  under  the  seat.  Three  things  at  a  time — 
physical  exercise,  mental  exercise,  and  a  pleasant 
ride  in  the  bargain,  with  a  donkey  for  a  companion. 
Once  more  I  make  the  offer.  Who  will  close  in 
with  it  ?" 

The  girls  were  all  laughing  behind  their  fans, 
but  Katie  checked  herself  immediate^  as  she  saw 
the  anxious  puzzled  expression  of  Miss  Tessy's 
face. 

"I'll  drive  Billy,"  she  said,  with  a  smile,  jump- 
ing out  of  the  carriage  and  helping  Miss  Tessy  into 
her  place. 

"Thank  you,  dear,"  said  Miss  Tessy,  nodding 
her  head  to  Katie.  "  I  think  she  will  enjoy  driving 
Billy,"  she  added,  apologetically,  to  the  girls. 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it,"  answered  Cad  Nelson, 
ironically.     "Be   careful    that    Billy  does    not    run 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  129 

away  with  you,"  she  called  after  Katie,  as  the  door 
was  shut  and  the  carriage  rolled  away. 

"  Have  they  left  you  alone,  Miss  Katie  ?"  asked 
Ashely  in  a  surprised  tone,  coming  up  and  lifting 
his  hat. 

"  O,  no,"  she  answered,  forgetting  to  ask  why  he 
remained.  "  I  intend  to  drive  Billy  the  Wonder- 
ful." 

Ashely  laughed 

"  An  illustration  of  Beauty  and  the  Beast.  I 
intended  to  ride  over  on  horseback,  but  if  you 
will  permit  me,  Miss  Katie,  I  will  take  care  of 
you." 

"  Certainly,  if  you  will  promise  to  drive  care- 
fully. Billy  is  so  excitable,"  she  said,  smiling  and 
blushing,  prettily,  as  she  jumped  into  the  donkey- 
cart. 

Billy  seemed  to  understand  that  his  reputation 
was  at  stake,  for,  despite  the  predictions  to  the  con- 
trary, he  brought  Ashely  and  his  companion  to  the 
old  church  in  ample  time. 

The  ceremony  was  very  beautiful  and  impressive, 
and,  at  its  conclusion,  after  the  many  congratula- 
tions and  well  wishes  for  the  future,  the  bridal  party 
started  homeward.     But  a  sudden  thunder  shower 

put  a  damper  upon  the  spirits  of  the  merry  party, 
I 


130  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

and  from  its  vehemence  seemed  likely  to  wash  them 
away  altogether. 

"  We  will  have  to  turn  back,  Miss  Lee,"  said 
Ashely,  turning  Billy  around.  "  This  cart  is  very 
poor  protection,  and  you  will  get  wringing  wet. 
There  is  no  alternative  but  to  take  refuge  in  the 
church  until  after  the  storm,  which  probably  will 
not  last  long,"  and  so  saying,  he  drove  back  to  the 
church,  in  which  they  sought  shelter,  after  fastening 
Billy  outside. 

"  What  a  dreary  old  place  this  is !  I  wonder 
that  Miss  Fairfax  should  choose  such  a  place  for  her 
marriage,"  said  Ashely,  arranging  a  seat  for  Katie  in 
one  of  the  pews. 

"  Jessie  told  me  it  was  an  old  custom  and  Belle 
would  not  be  the  first  to  break  from  it.  I  should 
feel  as  though  I  were  going  to  my  own  funeral," 
answered  Katie,  looking  about  her.  "  O  dear !"  as 
flash  of  lightning  nearly  blinded  her.  "  Hush ! 
What  was  that  ?"  she  added,  turning  pale.  "  Didn't 
you  hear  a  noise?" 

"  Yes,  quite  a  noise  that  thunder  clap  gave  us," 
laughed  Ashely.  Are  you  afraid  of  a  storm,  Miss 
Lee  ?" 

"  No,"    hesitatingly ;    "  that    is,   not   anywhere 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  131 

else.  But  it  is  so  dreary  here.  There !  I  was 
sure  I  heard  a  step,"  rising  up,  nervously. 

"  Don't  be  frightened,  Miss  Katie,"  he  said, 
gently,  coming  up  close  to  her  side. 

It  was  dark,  very  dark  in  the  old  church  now. 
Katie  could  scarcely  distinguish  the  features  of  her 
companion,  but  she  knew  that  he  was  near  her  and 
her  heart  beat  quickly  as  he  took  her  trembling  lit- 
tle hands  in  both  his  own.  Perhaps  at  another 
time  and  in  another  place  she  would  have  been 
angry,  but  she  felt  frightened  in  this  dark  old 
church  with  the  storm  raging  without  and  a  rust- 
ling within  as  of  the  tread  of  unseen  spirits.  And 
it  was  a  comfort  to  know  that  a  strong  arm  was 
near,  ready  to  protect. 

At  every  flash  of  the  lightning  she  could  see 
that  he  was  bending  towards  her,  with  his  eyes 
fixed  upon  her  face.  She  longed  to  break  the  spell, 
but  dared  not.  At  last  the  rain  ceased  ;  the  mut- 
tering of  the  thunder  grew  fainter  and  fainter,  and 
the  storm  died  away,  spent  with  its  own  fury. 

"  Don't  you  think  we  had  better  start  back 
again  ?"  asked  Katie,  softly,  at  last. 

Ashely  drew  a  long  breath  and  released  the 
pretty  hands,  but  he  said  nothing  as  he  led  the  way 
out  of  the  church. 


132  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Do  look  at  Billy,"  laughed  Katie,  merrily, 
glad  of  any  excuse  to  speak.  "  I  never  saw  anything 
look  so  forlorn." 

And  poor  Billy  was  certainly  a  very  disconsolate 
looking  donkey,  with  the  rain  dripping  off  his  back 
and  his  ears  drooping  mournfully.  He  brightened 
up,  however,  as  Ashely  and  Katie  appeared  and 
fully  established  the  good  opinion  they  had  enter- 
tained of  his  traveling  powers  (perhaps  he  had  the 
wedding  dinner  in  view)  by  the  way  in  which  he 
trotted  towards  Bellevue. 

It  may  be  that  the  old  church  was  not  haunted, 
some  wise  folks  laughed  the  idea  to  scorn,  but  cer- 
tain it  is,  that  a  mysterious  figure  slipped  out  of  the 
church  door,  some  time  after  Ashely  and  Miss  Lee 
had  taken  their  departure,  and  trotted  at  some  dis- 
tance behind  them,  with  a  red  topped  boot  in  either 
hand,  for  the  roads  were  muddy ;  and  certain  it  is 
that  this  figure  did  not  halt  until  they  reached  Belle- 
vue, when  it  disappeared  as  mysteriously  as  it  had 
made  its  appearance. 

Our  fugitives  had  not  been  missed  in  the  general 
confusion,  save  by  Mar's  Jack,  and  so  escaped  com- 
ment. 

"  Where  have  you  been,  Katie  ?  I  have  been 
looking  everywhere  for  you,"  said  Jack  offering  her 


CALEB,   THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  133 

his.  arm,  as   the    guests    passed    into   the   dining 
hall. 

"I  was  delayed  a  little  by  the  storm,"  she  an- 
swered evasively,  but  Mar's  Jack  trusted  her  so  en- 
tirely that  he  was  satisfied. 

"  There  has  been  a  new  arrival  Katie,"  said  Jack 
as  they  seated  themselves  at  the  table,  "  and  you 
are  going  to  see  a  phenomenon.  But  don't  laugh 
for  anything  or  you  may  hurt  somebody's  feelings, 
for  Old  Peter  Brown  is  blessed  with  an  abundance 
of  relatives,  as  well  as  an  abundance  of  nose.  You 
may  see  a  nose,  several  minutes  before  old  Peter 
makes  his  appearance,  but  let  me  warn  you  to  keep 
a  straight  face,  upon  peril  of  your  life.  " 

Despite  the  old  proverb,  "forewarned  is  fore- 
armed," Katie  could  scarcely  repress  an  exclamation 
as  the  burly  form  of  the  Honorable  Peter  Brown 
entered  the  hall.  She  scarcely  noticed  the  heavy 
figure,  the  rolling  walk  and  the  homely  but  good- 
natured  face. 

No — the  nose  absorbed  her  whole  attention.  It 
was  one  of  those  large  sympathetic  noses,  that  seemed 
to  blend  with  and  overshadow  every  other  feature 
of  his  face. 

Nature  as  if  in  recompense  for  his  many  defects, 


134  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

had  bestowed  this  feature  upon  him  with  a  lavish 
hand. 

So  far  from  being  sensitive  over  his  lack  of 
beauty,  Old  Peter  Brown,  like  the  great  Mirabeau, 
gloried  in  his  own  ugliness. 

Nevertheless,  he  was  a  great  admirer  of  beauty 
and  after  dinner  collected  quite  a  bevy  of  pretty 
girls  about  him.  He  was  an  interesting  talker  and 
that  corner,  soon  became  a  very  lively  one. 

"  Please  tell  Katie  the  rusty  knife  story,  Mr. 
Brown,"  coaxed  Jessie  Fairfax,  who  was  sitting  on 
a  stool  at  his  feet. 

Old  Peter  laughed,  and  looked  at  Katie. 

"  You  think  that  I  am  very  handsome,  don't 
you,  my  pretty  one  ?  "  he  asked,  patting  her  cheek. 

"  I  haven't  exactly,  formed  my  opinion  yet,"  she 
answered  demurely,  at  which  he  burst  into  a  roar 
of  laughter. 

"  Well,  let  me  tell  you  the  opinion  other  people 
have,"  he  said,  drawing  a  rusty  knife  from  his  pock- 
et. "  This  is  an  old  story,  but  a  true  one,  and  it  is 
my  story.  I  don't  care  who  else  claims  it,"  he  add- 
ed, as  though  he  expected  some  one  else  to  dispute 
his  right  to  being  its  hero. 

" '  Once  upon  a  time,'  as  the  fairy  tales  go,  I 
was  riding  along  on  horseback,  musing  so  intently 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  135 

that  another  solitary  equestrian  came  almost  upon 
me  before  I  discovered  him.  He  stared  at  me 
rather  fixedly,  but  I  am  used  to  admiration,  so  took 
very  little  notice  of  him  and  rode  on.  Pretty  soon 
he  called  after  me,  '  Say  stranger,'  and  I  reined  in 
my  horse  and  looked  back. 

"  'Well — what's  wanting  ?'  I  asked,  as  he  rode  up 
by  my  side. 

** '  Say,  stranger,  I  reckon  I  have  something  that 
ought  to  be  your'n  by  rights.  Yes,'  he  added,  look- 
ing me  full  in  the  face,  '  I  am  sure  it  belongs  to 
you.'    • 

"  'To  me,  sir? '  I  asked,  in  astonishment. 

'"  Yes,  stranger  —  to  you,'  he  said,  nodding  his 
head  emphatically,  'You  see  I  was  up  to  a  fair  at 
the  creek  an'  I  received  this  here  as  a  prize  furbein' 
the  ugliest  man  in  the  state,'  he  added,  drawing 
this  rusty  knife  from  his  pocket,  '  an'  I  was  ter 
keep  it  till  I  found  a  man  uglier'n  myself.  This 
here  knife  belongs  to  you,  stranger,'  and  he  laid  it 
in  my  hand  and  rode  away. 

"  So  you  see  how  handsome  they  think  me,  " 
concluded  old  Peter,  laughing  louder  than  any  of 
the  company. 

"  The  rusty  knife  story,  I  am  sure,"  said  Mrs. 
Fairfax,  coming  towards  them,  "  I  do  not  like  to 


136  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

put  an  end  to  so  much  enjoyment,  but  the  gentle- 
men are  calling  for  Mr.  Brown  in  the  smoking  room, 
and  I  want  the  young  ladies  to  assist  me  in  deco- 
rating the  drawing  room,  with  some  flowers,  that 
have  just  arrived.      Will  you,  girls  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  they  cried  eagerly,  following  her 
into  the  drawing-room,  from  which  the  other  guests 
had  been  excluded. 

Twelve  pairs  of  hands  and  twelve  chattering 
tongues  were  busy  for  the  next  hour,  and  at  its  close 
twelve  pairs  of  bright  eyes  surveyed  the  work 
accomplished,  critically. 

"  Perfectly  lovely,"  was  the  unanimous  verdict. 
Walls,  paintings  and  arches  were  beautifully  decorat- 
ed with  trailing  vines  and  flowers.  An  archway  of 
flowers  extended  across  the  center  of  the  room,  and 
just  under  it  the  mischievous  girls  hung  a  couplet 
in  red  and  white  flowers  : 

"  Who  stands  under  this, 
Forfeits  a  kiss." 

And  many  were  the  kisses  forfeited  by  the  fair 
damsels  during  the  course  of  the  evening,  as  they 
passed  under  the  archway  in  dancing.  Indeed,  those 
who  escaped  were  quite  in  the  minority.  Even  Miss 
Tessy,  who,  being  very   near-sighted,  put  on  her 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  137 

glasses  to  look  at  the  couplet,  received  a  sounding 
kiss  from  old  Peter  Brown,  which  proceeding  was 
greeted  with  a  burst  of  applause. 

And  sly  Mar's  Jack  induced  unsuspecting  Jessie 
Fairfax  to  promenade  with  him,  leading  her  by  a 
circuitous  route  under  the  archway,  where  he  ob- 
tained the  kiss  of  which  she  had  cheated  him  the 
day  of  his  arrival. 

Many  were  the  attempts  made  to  obtain  a  kiss 
from  Katie's  pretty  lips,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  Phil 
Ellerton  had  tried  to  waltz  with  her  under  the  arch- 
way, but  she  whirled  off  in  another  direction.  Wil- 
ton Fairfax  and  Tom  Barton  hovered  near,  all  the 
evening,  dancing  and  promenading  in  vain  attempts 
to  lure  her  to  the  fatal  spot.  She  stood,  chatting  and 
laughing,  dispensing  her  bright  smiles  upon  the 
group  of  admirers  who  surrounded  her  as  moths 
fluttering  about  the  candle-light,  but  the  wary  little 
coquette  was  not  to  be  conquered,  and  Jier  kisses 
were  still  her  own. 

"  Miss  Lee  is  the  only  one  in  the  room  who  has 
not  had  a  kiss,"  said  Wilton  Fairfax  to  Ashely,  who 
came  up  at  that  moment.  "  I  think  we  should 
devise  some  means  to  obtain  one.  What  do  you 
say,  gentlemen,  to  carrying  her  by  main  force  under 
6* 


138  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

the  archway,  and  making  her  kiss  every  one  in  the 
room,  as  a  penalty  ?  " 

"  Oh,  you  dreadful  boy,"  answered  Katie,  hur- 
riedly,'"  that  would  not  be  fair  one  bit,  would  it, 
Mr.  Burton  ?     I  appeal  to  you  for  protection." 

Tom  shook  his  head. 

"  I  am  afraid  it  would,  Miss  Katie.  You  don't 
give  a  fellow  half  a  chance." 

Katie  looked  up  with  an  air  of  mock  reproach. 

u '  And  thou,  too,  Brutus  ? '  You  gentlemen  are 
very  ungallant.  I  will  try  once  again.  I  challenge 
Mr.  Fairfax  to  mortal  combat,"  she  said  laughingly, 
throwing  down  her  glove.  "  Who  will  be  my  cham- 
pion?" 

"  I  will,  Miss  Katie ;  "  and  Ashely  stooped  to 
pick  up  the  little  glove  which  he  placed:  in  his 
pocket. 

"  Agreed,"  she  said,  smiling  brightly,  and  reach- 
ing out  her  hand  toward  him. 

"This  is  my  waltz,  I  believe,  Katie,"  interrupt- 
ed Mar's  Jack,  rather  glumly,  offering  her  his 
arm. 

"  You  will  become  weary  enough,  by  and  by,  of 
the  silly  speeches  those  fellows  are  always  making,'* 
he  said  petulantly,  as  they  were  waltzing.  "I  don't 
see  why  you  like  them,  I  am  sure." 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  139 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  I  had  said  anything  about 
it,"  she  answered  coolly. 

"Oh,  well!  you  do  like  it,  and  you  know  it ; 
but  I  do  not." 

"You  do  not?  "  with  a  decided  emphasis  on  the 
You. 

"  No,  I  do  not.  Have  I  nothing  to  say  about 
it,  Katie  ?     No  sensible  girl  likes  flattery." 

"Thank  you,"  she  answered,  with  a  curl  of  the 
lip.  "  Let's  stop  waltzing,  please,"  she  added  coldly 
a  few  moments  afterward,  "I  am  tired.;  "  and  Mar's 
Jack  led  her  to  a  seat,  where  she  was  soon  surrounded 
by  the  whole  group  of  flatterers  he  had  been  con- 
demning so  harshly. 

This  was  their  first  quarrel.  Would  it  be  the 
last  ? 

That  night,  after  the  bridal  party  had  departed 
for  a  trip  to  the  far  North,  Katie  stood  in  her  room 
before  the  mirror.  She  glanced  down  at  her  chain, 
on  which  she  had  fastened  the  little  pearl  ring  be- 
fore putting  on  her  gloves  that  evening.  The  ring 
was  gone.  Was  this  a  bad  omen  ?  Katie's  heart 
was  heavy. 

"  It  must  be  in  the  drawing-room,"  she  thought. 
*'  I  will  run  down  and  look.    Miss  Tessy,"  she  added 


140  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

aloud,  "  I  will  be  back  in  a  moment  or  two,"  and 
she  hurried  down  stairs. 

Some  few  of  the  guests  were  out  on  the  veranda, 
but  the  drawing-room  was  entirely  deserted. 

"  What  have  you  lost,  Miss  Katie  ?  " 

"  Oh,  how  you  startled  me,  Mr.  Ashely !  I 
thought  it  whs  —  I  mean  —  well,  I  have  lost  a  little 
ring  I  wear  sometimes,"  she  said,  speaking  rather 
incoherently. 

"  May  I  help  you  search  for  it?" 

"  Thank  you.  I  think  I  can  find  it  alone  —  that 
is,  you  need  not  trouble  yourself." 

"  Oh,  no  trouble  at  all,  Miss  Lee.  What  kind 
of  a  ring  is  it?  " 

"  A  pearl  one;  I  wish  I  could  find  it."  Katie  felt 
nervous.  Suppose  Mar's  Jack  should  come  and  find 
her  here.  He  would  surely  say  that  it  was  her 
fault — that  she  had  met  Ashely  by  appointment. 

"  What  is  that  shining  in  the  corner?"  Ashely 
stooped  and  picked  up  something.  "  Is  this  your 
ring,  Miss  Lee  ?  " 

"  O,  I  am  so  glad  you  have  found  it," — holding 
out  her  hand. 

They  were  standing  under  the  archway  now. 

"  May  I  wish  it  upon  your  finger,  Miss  Lee  ? " 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  141 

and  he  slipped  it  upon  the  finger  she  held  out  to 
him,  regarding  her  intently  for  a  few  moments. 

"  I  sincerely  hope  this  may  prove  a  true  wish," 
he  said  in  a  low  tone. 

She  raised  the  pretty  face. 

"  Anything  so  very  serious?"  she  queried,  sau- 
cily. 

"Very  — to  me,"  then  he  suddenly  caught  her 
face  in  his  hands,  and  pressed  a  kiss  upon  her  lips. 

"  What  do  you  mean  Mr.  Ashely  ?  "  she  cried, 
angrily,  drawing  back  from  him. 

"  The  archway,  Miss  Katie,"  he  answered,  laugh- 
ing; but  she  turned  from  him  abruptly,  and  with  a 
beating  heart  and  a  flushed  face,  left  the  room. 


142  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLES. 


CHAPTER  X. 


"  Trifles  light  as  air, 
Are  to  the  jealous  confirmations  strong, 
As  proofs  of  holy  writ. " 


~"\  /TAR'S  Jack's  feelings  were  not  in  accordance 
-L-'-*-  with  the  bits  of  song  and  merry  laughter 
that  floated  to  his  ears,  as  he  stood  smoking  a  cigar 
in  a  quiet  corner  of  the  veranda,  several  days  after 
this. 

The  first  quarrel  seemed  to  have  made  more  im- 
pression upon  him  than  it  had  done  upon  Katie,  for 
he  heard  the  merry  voice,  and  caught  glimpses  of  a 
pretty  blue  muslin  as  she  tripped  back  and  forth 
over  the  lawn,  engaged  in  a  merry  game  of  "graces." 

"Who'll  be  my  partner,"  he  heard  her  ask. 

"  I  will— for  life,  Miss  Lee,"  he  heard  Tom  Bur- 
ton answer,  laughingly,  and  foolish  Mar's  Jack  was 
more  disconsolate  than  ever. 

"  She  scarcely  gives  me  a  thought,"  he  mused 
bitterly. 

"  They  are  all  inconstant.  Their  vows  are  traced 
in  sand.    But  I  had  thought  Katie,  in  her  sweet,  girl- 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  143 

ish  innocence,  and  artlessness,  above  all  these  tilings. 
She  cannot  love  me,  and  treat  me  as  she  does  with 
such  indifference.  She  seems  much  happier  away 
from  me.  I  cannot  understand  her.  Perhaps  she 
was  too  young — perhaps  it  was  all  a  mistake — per- 
haps it  would  be  better — no — I  cannot.  My  whole 
life  is  bound  up  in  hers." 

"Howdy-  Mar's  Jack." 

"  Well,  Caleb,  is  that  you  ?  "  and  Jack  felt  glad 
of  something  to  turn  his  thoughts  from  himself. 

"  How  are  you,  young  man  ?"  striving  to  speak 
in  a  careless  tone.  "  What  have  you  been  doing 
with  yourself  for  the  last  few  days?  " 

"  Me,  O,  I'se  been  habin'  a  perlicious  time,"  an- 
swered Caleb,  seating  himself  upon  the  railing  and 
whittling  away  at  a  stick. 

"  What  kind  of  a  time  is  that?  " 

"  A  berry  good  one,"  nodding  his  head  emphat- 
ically. "  I'se  been  eatin'  mos'ly.  O,  sech  lubly 
cakes  an'  pies, — an'  dat  nice  col'  stuff  wa't  makes 
yo'  head  ache.  'Deed,  to  tell  de  truf,  Mar's  Jack,  I 
finks  dere's  only  one  discomfort  'bout  eatin'  dese 
heah  good  tings." 

"  What  is  that  ? "  asked  Mar's  Jack,  looking 
imused. 

Caleb  put  his  head  upon  one  side. 


L44  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"Wellde}^  is  berry  perlicious  w'en  you  tinks 
'bout  dem,  an'  w'en  you  eats  'em,  but  dey  is  berry 
discomfutin'  w'en  you  gets  froo.  O,  berry  much  so," 
he  added,  fervently,  remembering  nights  of  pain. 

"  Have  these  good  things  given  you  much 
trouble,"  asked  Jack,  laughing. 

"  Trouble  ?  'Deed  I  reckon  dey  has,  Mar's  Jack. 
Why  acterly,  I  ain't  slep'  good  one  night  sence  I 
been  in  dis  heah  place,  an'  ebery  night  I  clar's  fore 
gracious  I  won't  eat  no  mo',  but  w'en  mornin'  comes, 
tings  looks  so  good,  I  eats  same  as  eber." 

Jack  laughed  merrily. 

"  You  are  willing  to  take  the  consequences,  if 
you  can  have  the  good  things,  I  suppose.  Well 
that's  human  nature.  We  think  only  of  the  present," 
he  added,  soberly,  after  a  pause. 

Caleb  stopped  whittling,  and  put  his  hands  into 
his  pockets. 

"  What  kind  ob  a  time  has  you  had,  Mar's  Jack  ?" 

"I  don't  know,"  checking  a  sigh. 

"  Tain't  been  so  perlicious  fur  you,  has  it  ?"  asked 
the  little  scamp,  with  a  knowing  wink. 

Mar's  Jack  turned  towards  him  angrily. 

"  Who  said  so  ?  " 

"  O,  nobody.  I  jes'  drawed  dem  'elusions  from 
tings  I  seed." 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  145 

"  And  pray,  what  things  have  you  seen,  sir  ?  " 

" Nuffin  much,"  in  a  tone  that  meant  "a  great 
deal." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Caleb  ?  "  Jack  drew  still 
nearer.    • 

Caleb  rolled  up  his  eyes,  i»nd  grinned,  but  kept 
provokingly  silent. 

"Answer  me,  sir,"  and  Mar's  Jack's  tone  was 
not  to  be  disobeyed. 

"  I  fought  mebbe  dat  you  didn't  like  dat  man 
w'at  likes  Miss  Katie." 

"What  man?"  Jack  questioned,  curiously. 

Matters  were  becoming  serious.  He  knew  that 
Katie  had  many  admirers,  but  one  in  particular, 
that  was  something  of  which  he  had  never 
dreamed. 

"  Why,  dat  man  wid  de  big  brack  eyes  w'at 
paints  pictures." 

"  Ashely,  you  mean  ?"  and  Mar's  Jack's  face 
grew  very  dark. 

Caleb  nodded. 

"  Yes,  sah.  An'  he  drawed  a  picture  of  Miss 
Katie  onct  w'en  she  war  sittin'  out  on  de  grass 
under  a  tree,  an'  w'en  she  goed  away  I  seed  him 
kiss  it,  too,  so  I  did." 

Jack  placed  his  thumbs  in  the  arm-holes  of  his 
K  7 


146  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

vest  and  stood  confronting  Caleb,  with  something  of 
a  sneer  upon  his  face. 

"  O,  he  did !  Have  you  anything  more  of 
interest  to  disclose  ?     Pray  go  on  !" 

"  Yes ;  an'  dey  danced  togedder  in  de  liberry 
onct,  w'en  no  one  was  dar,  an'  dey  talked  togedder 
an  awful  long  time,  an'  he  telled  her  dat  she  were 
awful  pretty,  an'  dat  he  lubbed  her"  (Caleb  was 
given  to  embellishing  a  story  to  suit  himself  totally 
regardless  of  truth).  "  But  dat  ain't  all  I  seed," 
continued  the  little  fellow,  growing  more  and  more 
communicative,  little  knowing  the  harm  he  was 
doing.  "  I  seed  sumfin  more  onct,  only  I  won't 
nebber  tell  w'at  it  was." 

Jack  seized  hold  of  Caleb's  arm. 

"  Tell  me  what  you  saw.     Do  you  hear  ?'' 

"  Ow;  you  hu'ts  me,  Mar's  Jack.  Ef  you  pinches 
dat  away  I  shan't  tell  you  nuffin." 

"  I  am  in  no  humor  for  vour  nonsense,  Caleb. 
Answer  me  at  once." 

"  Leg'go  my  arm  fust,"  and  Mar's  Jack  loosened 
his  hold. 

"Dat  feels  mo'  comfutable,"  and  Caleb  drew  a 
long  breath. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  speaking  in  a  teasingly  slow 
manner,  "  dat  ain't  all  I  seed.     Kase  one  night   I 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  147 

seed  de  pictur  man  an'  Miss  Katie  standin'  in  de 
room  whar  de  white  folks  alius  dances  an' " — Caleb 
lowered  his  voice  and  glanced  about — "  an'  he  tuck 
her  face  'tween  his  han's  jes'  so,  an'  he  kisses  her 
mouf,  so  he  did.     An'  onct — " 

Mar's  Jack  held  up  his  hand  deprecatingly. 

"  Never  mind,  Caleb.  I  do  not  wish  to  hear  any 
more,"  and  Caleb,  seeing  the  expression  of  Mar's 
Jack's  face,  was  silenced.  Climbing  over  the  rail- 
ing he  dropped  down  upon  the  grass  below  and 
trotted  away,  whistling.  Mar's  Jack  watched  the 
retreating  figure  in  an  absent  way.  Then  he  paced 
slowly  up  and  down,  busy  with  his  own  thoughts. 
Caleb  had  proved  but  a  Job's  comforter  to  his  already 
heavy  heart.  He  was  grieved  and  angry,  not  stop- 
ping to  question  Caleb's  veracity — for, 

"Whispering  tongues  can  poison  truth." 

What  should  he  do  ? 

Pride  answered — 

"  Nothing." 

Her's  had  been  the  wrong — her's  should  be  the 
reparation.  She  should  come  to  him,  put  an  end  to  all 
between  them  if  need  be  ;  he  would  never  seek  an  ex- 
planation. How  utterly  false  she  had  proved ! 
And  yet  the  sweet  winning  face  would  come  to  his 


148  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

thoughts,  and  the  blue  eyes  seemed  to  plead  with 
him  not  to  judge  too  harshly. 

He  remembered  her  words. 

"If  I  were  a  man  and  loved  a  woman  dearly  T 
would  stand  a  great  many  rebuffs  in  order  to  make 
her  mine."  ) 

/Love,  like  charity,  covereth  a  multitude  of  sins.  \ 
And  over  and  above  all  else,  his  heart  told  him  that 
he  loved  her  dearly,  dearly.  Perplexed  at  himself, 
Mar's  Jack  turned  upon  his  heel  and  walked  around 
to  the  front  lawn,  where  there  was  a  great  commo- 
tion among  the  young  people,  everybody  talking, 
and  all  talking  at  once, 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?"  he  asked  of  Wilton  Fair- 
fax, who  stood  apart  from  the  rest,  leaning  up 
against  the  fence. 

"  They  are  trying  to  get  up  some  new  fandango, 
I  believe,"  answered  Wilton,  indulging  in  a  yawn. 
"  Excuse  me,  Jack,  but  these  barbarously  late  hours 
I've  been  keeping  for  the  last  few  days  make  a 
fellow  feel  abominably  stupid.  I  don't  see  how 
those  girls  can  stand  it.  Look  at  them  !  They  are 
as  bright  and  fresh  as  they  were  the  first  day  they 
came.  By  the  way,  Templeton,  that  friend  of  yours 
is  a  mighty  pretty  girl,"  he  added,  looking  over 
towards  Katie,   who  was  at  the   other  side  of  the 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  149 

grounds.  She  was  standing  with  a  grace  hoop  in 
one  hand,  and  her  rod  raised  over  her  shoulder, 
and  was  carrying  on  an  animated  but  merry  dispute 
with  Ashely  over  some  questioned  point  in  the 
game.  She  made  a  pretty  picture,  standing  partly 
in  the  shadow  with  the  clinging  blue  draperies  about 
her,  and  the  gypsy  hat  pushed  back  from   off  her 

face. 

*'  She's  a  bonnic  wee  thing, 
She's  a  winsome  wee  thing," 

continued  Wilton,  lightly,  "  half  in  love  with  her 
myself.  No  chance  for  a  fellow  there,  though. 
Ashely  completely  monopolizes  her.  By  Jove ! 
That  man  has  the  greatest  way  of  insinuating  him- 
self into  a  girl's  good  graces  of  any  fellow  I  ever 
saw.  All  the  girls  like  him,  but  I  don't  wonder, 
for  he's  a  prime  chap.     Don't  you  think  so  ?" 

Mar's  Jack  frowned  darkly,  but  said  nothing. 

"  I  say,  Jack,"  Wilton  continued,  in  his  careless 
way,  "  I  wonder  how  you  could  have  lived  under  the 
same  roof  with  that  girl  three  whole  months,  with- 
out falling  in  love  with  her.  But  you  always  were 
a  queer  —  I  say,  old  bo}r,"  he  added  quickly,  catch- 
ing sight  of  Jack's  gloomy  face,  "  what  is  the 
matter?  You  have  not  been  like  yourself  for  the 
last  three  or  four  days,"  and  Wilton  placed  his  hands 


150  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

upon  Jack's  shoulders,  and  looked  into  the  dark, 
troubled  eyes. 

"  Nothing,"  answered  Jack,  in  a  low  tone,  turn- 
ing from  him.  "  Hush  !  here  comes  Miss  —  Miss 
Lee." 

"  O  Mar's  Jack,"  cried  Katie,  bounding  towards 
him,  forgetting  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment 
that  any  coolness  existed  between  them,  "  we  are 
arranging  for  a  lovely  old-fashioned  picnic  in  the 
woods.  Mr.  Ashely  proposed  it,  and  is  going  to 
superintend  everything  for  us.  Won't  that  be 
splendid?" 

Mar's  Jack  raised  his  dark  eyes  and  regarded  her 
a  moment  intently  : 

"  I  presume  anything  Mr.  Ashely  would  propose 
would  be  agreeable  to  you." 

Her  face  flushed  hotly,  and  the  blue  eyes  gave 
him  one  swift  glance  : 

"Certainly.  Mr.  Ashely  is  a  very  agreeable 
companion. 

li  Mr.  Fairfax,"  she  added,  turning  to  that  gentle- 
man, "  may  I  ask  your  attention  ?  " 

Wilton  was  surprised  at  this  passage  of  arms  be- 
tween Jack  and  Katie,  but  he  made  no  comment. 

"  Miss  Lee,"  he  said,  in  answer  to  her  question, 
"I  am  at  your  service.     'Friends,    Romans,'  and 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  151 

Templeton,  'lend  me  your  ears  !'  Beauty  will  dis- 
course." 

"  Well,"  said  Katie,  tapping  her  little  pink  palm 
with  her  fan,  as  she  spoke,  "  this  plan  is  to  be  put 
to  the  vote,  and  I  want  yours.  We  expect  to  have  a 
lovely  time,  and  you  always  champion  the  cause  of 
fun.  It  is  to  be  very  informal.  Just  going  for  a  good 
time.  We  intend  to  wear  sun-bonnets  and  gingham 
aprons  over  our  dresses.  I  am  sure  that  will  suit 
you,  won't  it?" 

Wilton  ran  his  fingers  through  his  hair. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  about  that,  Miss  Katie.  I 
might  manage  a  sun-bonnet,  but  it  has  been  so  long 
since  I  wore  gingham  aprons,  that  I  am  afraid  that 
1  should  not  know  how  to  behave  in  one." 

Katie  laughed  merrily. 

"  You  silly  boy,  you  know  I  don't  mean  the  gen- 
tlemen.    They  can  wear  anything  they  choose." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,"  answered  Wilton,  with  a  bow. 
"I  thought,  perhaps  Ashely  had  proposed  it,  for  the 
sake  of  producing  an  artistic  effect  among  the  mem- 
bers of  his  own  sex.  I  feel  greatly  relieved,  I 
assure  you — " 

"  You  see,  Ashely  is — " 

"Who  is  taking  my  name  in  vain?"  asked  that 


152  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

gentleman,  sauntering  up  leisurely,  followed  by  the 
rest  of  the  party. 

"  Oh,  I  was  merely  saying  that,"  began  Wil- 
ton— 

"That  I  was  a  very  clever  sort  of  a  fellow,  etc.," 
said  Ashely,  finishing  the  sentence.  "  Oh,  I  under- 
stand perfectly." 

"  Modesty  !  thy  name  is  Ashely,"  laughed  Katie. 

"  Those  are  my  sentiments  precisely,"  put  in  Wil- 
ton, nodding  approvingly  at  Katie.  "  I  say,  A  shely," 
he  added,  turning  around,  "  I  hear  bad  reports  of 
you.  Now,  if  you  have  a  grudge  against  a  fellow, 
why  not  fight  it  out  like  a  man,  and  not  take  such  a 
mean  way  of  getting  even.  A  picnic ! !  1  Think 
of  it ! " 

"  Brace  up,  and  meet  the  picnic  like  a  man," 
laughed  Ashely,  slapping  Wilton  on  the  back. 
"Now,  to  business.  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  all  in 
favor  of  the  afore-mentioned  picnic,  say  '  Aye.'  " 

"  Aye,"  rang  out  a  chorus  of  feminine  voices. 

"  Those  opposed  say  '  No.'  " 

"  No,"  very  emphatically,  from  the  male  portion 
of  the  company. 

"  We  will  have  to  try  again.  All  in  favor,  please 
signify  by  raising  the  right  hand.  Two,  four,  six, 
eight  —  twelve.     All  opposed,  please  signify  by  the 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  153 

same  motion.  Twelve  to  seven  in  favor  of  the  pic- 
nic.    To-morrow,  then,  at  eight,  we  start  forth." 

"  All  right,"  laughed  the  girls. 

"  All  wrong,"  groaned  the  gentlemen. 

Wilton  looked  the  picture  of  despair. 

"  Phil,"  he  said,  placing  his  hand  upon  Ellerton's 
shoulder,  " '  if  you  have  tears,  prepare  to  shed  them 
now.'     I  am  going  to  commit  suicide." 

"  Don't  look  so  disconsolate,"  laughed  Jessie. 
"  Think  of  all  the  nice  things  we  are  going  to  have : 
cake  and  sandwiches  and  pies — " 

"  And  mosquitoes  and  ants  and  flies ;  spiders 
cavorting  around  over  the  lunch  ;  liquids  upset  over 
solids.     Oh,  I  know  all  about  it,  thank  you." 

"Silence,  croaker,"  laughed  Katie.  "  You  have 
been  overruled ;  so  submit  to  your  fate,  gracefully 
at  least." 

"Gloria!  There's  the  lunch  bell.  I  am  as 
hungry  as  a  bear,"  cried  Tom  Burton,  springing  up 
from  the  grass. 

"  So  am  I,"  was  echoed  by  scores  of  voices,  and 
the  lawn  was  very  quickly  deserted. 

Several  hours  later  a  merry  party  rode  away 
from  Bellevue.  They  gradually  became  separated, 
taking  different  roads  into  town,  agreeing  to  meet 
at  the  same  place  and  ride  home  in  a  body.     Mar's 


154  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Jack's  face  grew  dark  as  he  saw  Ashely  and  Katie 
ride  together  down  one  of  the  less  frequented  roads. 
He  did  not  know,  foolish  Mar's  Jack,  that  the  heart 
which  beat  under  the  dark  blue  riding-jacket  was 
as  heavy  as  his  own. 

"  Let  us  ride  over  to  the  old  church,  Miss  Katie. 
We  will  spend  the  afternoon  there  and  ride  into 
town  in  time  to  meet  the  others,"  and  Katie  assent- 
ing, they  were  soon  roaming  about  among  the  tomb- 
stones. 

"  This  gloomy  old  place  has  a  fascination  for 
me,  somehow  or  other,"  said  Ashely,  pushing  open 
the  church  door.  "  Come  inside,  Miss  Katie,  and 
let  us  have  some  music.  We  have  not  been  here 
since  the  wedding  day.  Do  you  remember  ?"  turn- 
ing around  suddenly. 

She  reddened  slightly. 

"  Why,  of  course.  It  was  only  four  days  ago," 
she  said,  with  a  little  careless  laugh. 

"  Only  four  days  ago  ?  It  seems  longer.  That 
was  a  red  letter  day  in  my  life,  with  only  one  draw- 
back. I  am  afraid  you  have  not  quite  forgiven  that 
'stolen  kiss'  yet,  Miss  Lee.  I  would  apologize 
again  if  I  thought  it  would  re-instate  me  once  more 
in  your  good  graces." 

No,  Katie  had  not  quite  forgiven  him,  and  yet 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  155 

when  her  thoughts  reverted  to  Mar's  Jack,  she  felt 
ready  to  do  anything  by  way  of  revenge. 

"  Why  did  he  treat  her  so  coolly  ?  He 
surely  could  not  love  her.  Then  he  flirted  so 
shamefully  with  Jessie  Fairfax,  and  did  not  seem  to 
consider  his  engagement  binding  in  the  least.  O, 
she  was  greatly  to  be  pitied." 

Katie  was  finding  much  solace  in  searching  for 
sins  to  lay  upon  Mar's  Jack's  shoulders.  It  was  so 
easy  to  blame  him  for  her  own  shortcomings. 

"  Yes,  Mar's  Jack  had  treated  her  very  badly,  " 
she  determined,  "and  she  must — " 

"What  are  you  thinking  of,  Miss  Lee?  Your 
face  has  assumed  a  dozen  different  expressions 
during  the  last  three  minutes.  And  I,  poor  wretch, 
have  been  standing  here  in  fear  and  trembling  to 
know  my  fate.     Am  I  entirely  forgiven  ?" 

She  looked  up  at  him  from  under  the  long  lashes. 

"Are  you  very  anxious  to  be  restored  to  my 
favor  ?" 

Ashely  stood  tapping  his  riding  boot  with  his 
whip. 

"  Your  good  opinion  is  worth  more  to  me  than 
that  of  anyone  else  in  the  world,  Miss  Lee,"  he  said, 
in  a  low  tone. 

"  Why,  of  course  you  are  forgiven.   Do  not  take  it 


156  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

so  seriously, "  she  answered,  with  a  light  laugh. 
"  You  asked  me  for  music.  Come,  let's  sing  some- 
thing together,"  and  she  seated  herself  at  the  organ, 
which  had  not  yet  been  taken  back  to  Bellevue. 
Ashely  followed  slowly  up  the  aisle,  wondering 
at  this  little  piece  of  innocence  and  coquetry.  He 
only  knew  that  he  loved  her  with  his  whole  heart. 

"  Sing  alone,  Miss  Katie,  won't  you  ?  My  voice 
isn't  in  tune  to-day." 

"What  shall  I  sing?  Hush  !"  she  added,  turn- 
ing around  quickly.     "  What  was  that  noise  ?" 

Ashely  laughed. 

"Ghosts,  perhaps.  You  are  always  imagining 
that  one  of  them  will  make  his  appearance.  Perhaps 
music  hath  charms  to  soothe  the  ghostly  breast  as 
well  as  the  savage  one,  Miss  Lee.  So  put  a  quietus 
upon  them  with  a  song." 

Katie  ran  her  fingers  over  the  keys. 

"  What  shall  I  sing  ?"  she  queried  again.  Then 
before  Ashely  had  time  to  answer  she  broke  into  a 
plaintive  little  ballad,  the  lovely  voice  echoing 
and  re-echoing  through  the  old  church,  dying  away 
in  low  wailing  tones,  as  of  the  moaning  of  some  lost 
spirit.  Then  the  pretty  head  drooped  and  two  big 
tears  fell  upon  the  keys.  She  wiped  them  away 
quickly,  and  lookedup  with  a  light  laugh. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  157 

"  That  was  a  dreadfully  blue  song,  wasn't  it  ?  I 
don't  like  it  one  bit.  I  prefer  singing  without  the 
organ,  anyhow,"  and  she  sang  a  merry  jingling  little 
air,  keeping  time  to  the  music  with  her  foot. 

Ashely  regarded  her  intently  for  a  few  moments. 

"  You  are  an  enigma  to  me,  Miss  Lee.  But  I 
shall  not  believe  an  insolvable  one.  Do  you  know 
I  am  quite  an  exception  to  the  rule  ?  The  Ashelys 
invariably  fall  in  love  with  Southern  girls.  Even 
my  stern  old  father  had  quite  a  '  penchant '  for  some 
dark-eyed  girl  of  the  South.  But  here  am  I,  com- 
pletely bewitched  by  a  certain  little  Northern  lad}'", 
who  practices  so  many  bewildering  arts  that  she 
positively  deserves  to  be  tried  for  witchcraft." 

"  O,  do  tell  me  about  your  father,"  she  said, 
looking  up  with  most  innocent  air  possible,  and  not 
seeming  to  take  the  slightest  heed  of  the  latter  part 
of  his  remark.  "  I  am  the  greatest  girl  for  romances 
you  ever  saw." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  that  there  was  much  of  a 
romance.  He  was  desperately  in  love  with  some 
Southern  girl,  who  jilted  him,  I  believe.  He  was 
such  a  stern,  quiet  old  man,  that  I  never  dreamed 
of  anything  of  the  kind  ever  happening  in  his  life, 
until,  in  looking  over  his  effects  after  his  death, 
I  found  some  letters  that  told  the  whole  story.     I 


158  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

don't  know  anything  about  the  lady  except  that  she 
always  signed  herself,  'yours,  ever,  Ruth.'  So  you 
see  it  wasn't  very  much  of  a  romance  after  all.  But 
what's  the  matter  ?"  he  asked,  anxiously.  "  Are 
you  ill?" 

The  color  came  back  into  her  face. 

"  O,  nothing,"  she  answered,  nervously,  playing 
with  the  little  pearl  ring  upon  her  finger.  "  It  was 
only  momentary.  There — my  ring  "—as  it  slipped 
from  her  grasp  and  rolled  away  upon  the  floor. 

"Now,  that's  too  bad  of  you,  Miss  Katie.  My 
wish  is  null  and  void  ;"  and  Ashely  stooped  to  pick 
up  the  ring. 

"This  is  very  pretty,"  he  added,  examining  it 
closel}T,  little  knowing  that  his  stern  old  father  had 
slipped  the  same  ring  upon  Ruth  Templeton's  slen- 
der finger  long,  long  ago. 

"  Miss  Lee?"  he  asked,  suddenly,  looking  keenly 
into  the  blue  eyes  as  he  handed  her  the  ring,  "  Will 
you  think  me  intrusive  if  I  ask  a  question.  Are 
you  engaged  ?" 

The  dark  head  was  raised  proudly. 

"  I  will  not  answer  a  question  of  that  kind,  Mr. 
Ashely." 

"  Katie,"  speaking  in  a  low,  earnest  tone,  "  I  do 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  100 

not  ask  out  of  mere  curiosity.  Won't  you  tell  me  ? 
Are  you  engaged  ?" 

She  jumped  up  from  the  organ  seat  and  picked 
up  her  riding-hat  and  whip. 

"  Whatever  put  such  a  ridiculous  idea  into  your 
head  ?     Why,  I  am 

In  maiden  meditation  fancy  free/ 
of  course. 

"  Come,  Mr.  Ashely,  the  day  waneth,  and  we 
must  depart,"  she  added,  airily,  tripping  down  the 
aisle. 

"  Why,  where  are  our  horses  ?"  she  cried,  in  dis- 
may, as  they  reached  the  church  door. 

"Echo  answers  where,"  and  Ashely  looked 
about  him  with  a  puzzled  expression.  But  search 
where  he  would  the  horses  were  nowhere  to  be 
found. 

"I  can  not  find  them,"  he  admitted,  at  last,  re- 
luctantly. "  They  must  have  gone  back  to  Bellc- 
vue." 

'"  What  shall  we  do  ?"  she  queried,  despairingly. 

Ashely  shook  his  head. 

"  I  don't  know,  Miss  Katie.  We  can  do  nothing 
except  '  wend  our  weary  way '  homeward  on  foot, 
unless  you  are  willing  to  stay  here  while  I — " 


160  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  O,  mercy,  no !"  she  interrupted,  with  an  ex- 
pression of  horror.  "  Nothing  would  induce  me  to 
stay  in  this  place  alone.  I'll  walk,"  and  with  a 
little  sigh  she  took  her  place  at  his  side  and  trudged 
homeward. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  161 


CHAPTER    XI. 


1  Beware  of  too  sublime  a  sense, 
Of  your  own  worth  and  consequence 


"TV  /TE  ANWHILE  the  rest  of  the  party,  after  wait- 
_LVJ..  jng  jn  vajn  at  tiie  piace  0f  rendezvous,  re- 
turned to  Bellevue,  where  a  search  was  begun 
immediately  for  the  truants. 

"  Well,  if  they  are  here,  I  can  not  find  them,  that 
is  certain.  And  it  is  too  warm  to  exert  one's  self 
this  weather,"  said  Jessie  Fairfax,  seating  herself 
upon  the  sofa,  and  fanning  vigorously. 

"They  are  on  the  road  home,  probably.  We 
need  not  expect  to  see  them  for  hours,"  put  in  Lucy 
Burton,  sitting  down  beside  Jessie  Fairfax.  "  Fan 
me  Jessie,  or  I  shall  expire  immediately." 

"  That  is  a  '  gone  case,' "  lauged  Phil  Ellerton. 
"  One  match  made  at  this  wedding,  anyhow.  I 
wonder  who'll  be  the  next  ?"  And  he  gave  a  sly 
glance  at  Cad  Nelson,  making  that  young  lady 
blush  to  the  roots  of  her  hair. 

"  Jack  and  Jessie  will  probably  follow  suit," 
said  Wilton,  teasingly. 

L  7» 


132  CALEB,    THE   IKTtEPUESSlBLE. 

Jessie  looked  provoked. 

"  Do  hush,  Wilton,"  with  a  glance  at  Mar's  Jack, 
who  stood  at  the  other  end  of  the  room,  conversing 
with  Miss  Tessy. 

"Now,  if  Tessy,  heavenly  maid,  were  young," 
continued  Wilton,  "  I  should  say  that  she  was  sup- 
planting you  in  Jack's  affections  ;  but  taking  all 
things  into  consideration,  especially  the  lady  her- 
,self,  I  think  your  chances  are  pretty  fair  yet.  So 
do  your  best  there,  for  Tempieton  is  a  tip  top  fellow, 
and  no  mistake." 

"  What's  wanting,  Wilton,"  called  Jack,  hearing 
his  name  spoken. 

Wilton  looked  around  roguishly. 

"  O,  nothing!  I  was  just  giving  Jessie,  here, 
a  little  brotherly  advice  about  improving  the  shining 
moments  as  they  fly,  that's  all." 

And  Jack,  not  understanding  the  laugh  that  fol- 
lowed, bowed  gravely,  and  turned  to  Miss  Tessy 
again. 

"  Mr.  Tempieton,  if  Miss  Hepsworth  will  kindly 
excuse  you,  I  should  like  very  much  to  see  you  for 
a  short  time,"  interrupted  old  Peter  Brown,  tapping 
Jack's  shoulder  and  nodding  mysteriously.  "  I  beg 
pardon  for  the  intrusion,  but  my  business  with  you 
is  very  important." 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  j.1").'; 

Miss  Tessy  smiled  at  old  Peter,  over  the  top  of 
her  fan. 

"La,  now,  Mr.  Brown,  don't  mind  one  bit  about 
apologizing.  I  have  to  go  up  to  my  room,  to  write 
some  letters,  and  Jacky  can  go  with  you,  can't  you 
Jacky?"  and  she  smiled  and  bowed  as  "Jacky" 
followed  old  Peter  to  the  veranda. 

"  Here,  young  man  !  I  have  business  with  this 
gentleman ;  so  move  on,"  ordered  Peter,  seeing 
Caleb  on  the  veranda  steps. 

Now  if  Caleb  had  been  ordered  to  remain,  he 
would  probably  have  scampered  away  as  fast  as  the 
little  black  legs  would  have  carried  him.  As  it  was, 
he  seated  himself  with  a  determined  air. 

"  I  ain't  gwine  ter  pay  no  'tention  ter  youse,"  he 
muttered  impudently,  taking  care  not  to  speak  dis- 
tinctly, however. 

Jack  came  up  to  him. 

"  Caleb,  can't  you  mind  when  you  are  spoken 
to  ?  This  gentleman  says  that  you  are  to  go  away. 
So,  skip  !     Do  you  hear  ?  " 

Caleb  changed  his  tactics  and  began  to  plead  : 

"  Please  ter  let  me  stay,  Mar's  Jack  !  I  '11  'have 
myself.  I  hones'ly  hain't  got  no  whar  else  ter  go, 
an'  dis  place  is  so  bery  comfortable.  Won't  yer  let 
me  stay,  Mar's  Peter  ?  " 


164  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Old  Peter  looked  doubtful. 

"  Why,  I  don't  know  that  I  really  have  any  very 
great  objections ;  and  yet,"  in  an  aside  to  Jack,  "  the 
boy  might  communicate  what  he  hears." 

"  He  must  go  away,  of  course,  Mr.  Brown.  I 
will  not  have  any  more  of  his  nonsense,"  and  Mar's 
Jack  started  towards  him. 

The  little  fellow  immediately  began  to  descend 
the  steps,  very  reluctantly,  however,  and  muttering 
in  an  undertone  to  himself  all  the  way.  Then  a 
bright  thought  came  into  his  head,  and  he  sat  down 
upon  the  lowest  step. 

u  My  leg 's  so  sore  dat  I  hones'ly  can't  go  no 
furder,"  he  whined,  pulling  at  a  red  flannel  rag  that 
was  wound  about  his  leg. 

O  Caleb  !  Caleb  !  how  can  you  practice  such 
deception  on  these  two  unsuspecting  gentlemen? 
That  rag  was  tied  about  your  leg  but  a  short  time 
since,  in  imitation  of  the  old  lame  hen  in  the  poul- 
try yard. 

"  Oh,  well,  let  the  child  stay  there,  if  he  is 
hurt,"  said  Mr.  Brown ;  and  Mar's  Jack,  who  was 
too  worried  and  heavy  of  heart  to  give  much  heed 
to  Caleb,  merely  turned  to  Mr.  Brown,  with 

"  I  am  at  your  service,  sir." 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  165 

Old  Peter  coughed  once  or  twice,  and  glanced 
about  nervously. 

"Ahem!  well  —  ahem!  I  say,  Mr.  Templeton, 
that  friend  of  yours  is  a  very  pretty,  well-spoken 
miss." 

Jack  looked  up  curiously. 

"  Katie  —  Miss  Lee,  you  mean  ? ' 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  that 's  the  one.    Don't  you  think  so  ?" 

"  She  is  very,  very  pretty,"  Jack  answered,  in  a 
low  tone. 

Old  Peter  nodded. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  she  is  —  ahem  !  "  fumbling  nerv- 
ously with  his  watch  chain.  "  Well,  about  how  old 
do  you  think  the  young  lady  is  ?  " 

Jack  was  becoming  interested.  Why  was  he  be- 
ing cross-questioned  in  this  way  ? 

"  She  is  eighteen,  I  believe,  Mr.  Brown." 

"Eighteen?"  rubbing  his  chin  thoughtfully, 
"  humph  !  Eighteen  ;  well,  she  might  be  older  ;  but 
that  is  not  so  very  young.  I  say,  Templeton,"  taking 
Jack  by  the  button-hole,  "  I  think  I  will  marry  that 
girl." 

"  What  ?  "  Mar's  Jack  started  as  though  he  had 
been  shot,  and  Caleb's  big  round  eyes  opened  to  their 
widest  extent. 


166  CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Old  Peter  straightened  himself  with  dignity. 

"I  said  I  thought  I  would  marry  the  lady — that 
is,  of  course,  if  she  herself  is  willing.  Have  you  any- 
thing to  say  against  it  ?  " 

But  Mar's  Jack  could  only  stare  at  old  Peter, 
in  an  amazed  way.  Then  he  suddenly  threw  back 
his  head  and  laughed  immoderately,  while  Caleb 
burst  the  last  button  off  his  suspender  and  rolled 
off  the  step. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ? "  demanded  Mr. 
Brown,  highly  indignant.  "Do  you  see  anything 
very  laughable  in  that,  sir  ?  " 

Jack  sobered  down  instantly. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  answered  humbly,  but 
with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  nevertheless.  "  I  was 
a  little  surprised,  that 's  all.  You  see,  your  —  your 
(nose,  Jack  was  about  to  say)  age,  sir  — " 

"  My  age,  sir  !  "  interrupted  the  old  gentleman, 
irately  ;  "  I  am  only  nine  and  fifty,  sir.  I  am  one 
of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  county,  and  my  name 
is  one  of  the  oldest.  Many  a  young  lady  would 
'jump  at  the  chance,'  sir!"  and  old  Peter  drew 
himself  up  proudly. 

"  Certainly,"  answered  Mar's  Jack  in  a  concilia- 
tory manner.  "Any  lady  should  feel  honored  to 
have  your  attention.     But, — this  young  lady —  " 


OALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  167 

"Well?'  very  shortly. 

"  This  young  lady  is  engaged." 

Old  Peter  drew  a  long  breath. 

"Engaged?     Indeed?     To  whom,  may  I  ask  ?" 

Mar's  Jack  hesitated. 

"  To  myself,5'  he  answered,  in  a  low  tone,  after  a 
pause. 

"Is  it  possible?  Well,  well,  I  never  should 
have  dreamed  it.  O,  you  sly  dog !"  laughed  old 
Peter,  "  I  understand  your  conduct  now.  You 
were  afraid  of  me  as  a  rival.  Ha  !  Ha  !  Don't  be 
alarmed  my  boy,"  he  added,  slapping  Jack  upon  the 
shoulder.  "I  shall  not  try  to  get  your  little 
treasure  from  you.  Don't  be  afraid  of  me,  though  I 
am  such  a  ladies'  man,"  and  old  Peter  laughed 
heartily  at  Jack's  expense. 

"  Well,  that  puts  a  new  face  upon  the  affair," 
he  continued,  after  a  pause.  "  Let  me  see.  Do 
you  know  any  lady  a  little  nearer  my  own  age, 
perhaps  (mind,  I  don't  consider  myself  old  at 
all),  one  more  mature  and  not  sq  giddy  as  these 
young  creatures  are  apt  to  be,  whom  I  might  ad- 
dress?" 

"  I  knows  one,  Mar's  Peter,"  put  in  Caleb,  be- 
fore Jack  had  time  to  answer.  "  Miss  Tessy  is  de 
gal  fur  you." 


168  CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Jack  feared  the  old  gentleman  would  be  angry, 
but,  strange  to  say,  Peter's  face  brightened. 

"  Well,  now,  I  never  thought  of  that,"  he 
chuckled,  seeming  to  think  it  all  a  good  joke. 
"  That  would  be  a  pretty  good  plan.  She  is  very 
good-natured  and  pleasant,  comes  of  a  fine  old 
family,  and,  in  fact,  I  believe  Miss  Tessy  would  suit 
me  very  well.  Here,  shake  hands,  little  fellow," 
and  he  shook  Caleb's  hand  vigorously. 

"  I  say,"  he  added,  coming  up  close  to  Mar's 
Jack,  and  whispering  in  his  ear,  "  You  won't  men- 
tion this  conversation  to  anyone  ?" 

"  Certainly  not,"  and  having  obtained  Jack's 
word,  old  Peter  walked  away,  leaving  Caleb  to  roll 
down  the  steps  again,  turn  three  summersaults,  and 
lie  out  on  the  lawn  for  at  least  five  minutes,  shaking 
with  laughter,  after  which  he  sobered  down  and 
came  to  Jack's  side. 

"Say,  Mar's  Jack,"  he  said,  winking  knowingly, 
"I  kin  tell  whar  Miss  Katie  done  went  ter  dis 
heah  day." 

Jack's  face  darkened. 

"  She  went  ter  de  ole  church  wiv  Mar's  Ashely, 
so  she  did,  an' " — Caleb  backed  down  the  steps — "  an' 
dey's  gwine  ter  hab  ter  walk  home  too,  so  dey 
is." 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  169 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Caleb  ?"  asked  Jack, 
sternly. 

"  Nuffin,  only  dere  horses  is  in  the  stable  now," 
answered  the  little  imp,  leering  and  darting  away. 

Sure  enough,  as  Ashely  had  surmised,  the 
horses  were  in  the  stalls  at  Bellevue,  quietly 
munching  hay,  and  looking  the  pictures  of  injured 
innocence.  So  it  was  decided  that  they  had  re- 
turned of  their  own  accord.  I  have  my  doubts  as  to 
that  solution  of  the  mystery,  however.  For,  I 
think,  if  Ashely  and  Katie  had  been  less  engrosssed 
with  each  other  that  afternoon,  they  would  have 
seen  a  short,  fat  boy,  mounted  upon  one  horse  and 
leading  another,  ride  out  cautiously  from  the  grave- 
yard and  take  the  road  to  Bellevue.  Certain  it  is, 
that  Caleb's  face  assumed  a  grin  that  afternoon 
which  did  not  wear  away  for  several  days. 


170  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 


0 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Ah  me  !    For  aught  that  ever  I  could  read, 

Could  ever  hear  by  tale  or  history, 

The  course  of  true  love  never  did  run  smooth."     ! 


rpiME'S  up,  girls,"  called  Wilton  Fairfax,  at  the 
-*-      foot  of  the  stairway. 

"  No  more  'primping  '  allowed,"  chimed  in  Phil 
Ellerton. 

"  Ready  in  a  minute,"  was  the  answer,  and 
shortly  afterwards  a  long  procession  of  girls,  with 
gingham  aprons  over  their  dresses  and  huge  sun- 
bonnets  shading  their  faces  from  view,  marched 
down  stairs,  double  file,  with  arms  folded  and  eyes 
turned  upward. 

"  Jupiter  Amnion !  What  have  we  here  ?"  ejac- 
ulated Tom  Burton. 

"I  give  it  up.  My  delicate  nerves  can  not  stand 
the  shock,"  groaned  Wilton.  "Here,  Phil,  support 
me." 

"  Can't  do  it.  I  can  hardly  stand  it  myself. 
Some  orphan  asylum  let  loose  upon  us,  I  think," 
answered  Phil,  in  a  faint  voice. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  171 

This  upset  the  gravity  of  the. whole  procession, 
and  Phil  was  interrupted  by  a  merry  burst  of 
laughter. 

"  Don't  we  look  bewitching  ?  "  asked  Jessie  Fair- 
fax, roguishly. 

Wilton  straightened  himself  and  frowned  at  her. 

"  That  I  call  adding  insult  to  injury.  You  have 
proceeded  one  step  beyond  the  bounds,  madam  ;  but 
come,"  he  added,  changing  his  tone,  "  do  let's  start. 
Here,  Cassius  and  Frank,  shoulder  these  baskets. 
Is  every  body  here  ?  " 

"  Where  's  Jack  Templeton  ? "  asked  Phil 
Ellerton,  looking  around. 

"Don't  feel  well  this  A.M.  ;  has  a  headache,  I 
believe.  Will  be  out  in  the  afternoon,"  answered 
Wilton,  gathering  up  a  bundle  of  shawls. 
^Katie  was  troubled.  How  could  she  enjoy Jigr-. 
self,  when  she  knew  Mar's  Jack  was  at  home,  with 
an  aching  head  Kshe  might  have  added  an  aching 
heart).  She  would  go  to  him — no — the  pretty  lips 
were  closed  tightly.  Mar's  Jack  had  neglected  her  ; 
had  treated  her  coolly.  He  must  be  the  first  to 
relent. 

The  merry  party  filled  two  large  wagons,  and 
they  drove  away,  laughing  gayly  and  waving  their 
handkerchiefs  to  those  who  remained. 


172  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Mar's  Jack  stood  concealed  behind  the  library 
curtain,  and  as  he  watched  them  drive  away  his  eye 
sought  the  one  so  dear  to  him.  He  frowned  when 
he  saw  who  sat  at  her  side,  and  watched  the  express- 
ive face  brighten  as  she  talked.  Katie  seemed  the 
gayest  of  the  gay,  and  Mar's  Jack  turned  from  the 
window,  with  the  old  bitter  feeling,  not  knowing 

that  Katie's  heart  was  sore,  despite  her  bright  smiles, 

for    f 

!     "  'T  is  a  womanly  art  to  hide  pain  out  of  sight  ; 
To  look  around  with  a  smile, 
Though  the  heart  ache  the  while." 

For  the  first  mile  or  so,  the  merry  spirits  did  not 
flag  ;  but  as  the  sun  grew  hotter,  there  were  evident 
signs  of  weariness. 

"  Do  raise  that  umbrella  over  my  head,  Mr.  El- 
lerton,"  implored  Cad  Nelson,  raising  her  bright 
eyes  beseechingly.     "  I  am  just  ready  to  melt." 

"  Old  Sol  is  trying  to  liquidate  us  all,  I  think," 
answered  Phil,  hastening  to  comply  with  her  re- 
quest. 

"  I  pity  you  girls  with  fair  complexions,"  laughed 
Jessie  Fairfax,  pushing  back  the  hair  from  her  own 
dark,  pretty  face.  "  Why,  Katie,  your  nose  is  get- 
ting dreadfully  freckled,"  she  added,  teasingly. 

"  Is  it  ?  "  asked  Katie,  in  dismay,  rubbing  that 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  173 

dainty  little  feature  ruefully.  "  Mr.  Fairfax,  I 
appeal  to  you :  Is  my  nose  getting  very  freckled  ?  " 

Wilton  assumed  a  horrified  expression  : 

"  Oh,  shockingly  so  !  I  never  saw  anything  so 
dreadful  in  my  life.  Each  freckle  is  about  the  size 
of  a  penny ;  so  you  may  imagine  how  you  look.  I 
can  hardly  stand  the  sight  myself,"  and  Wilton 
covered  his  face  with  his  hands. 

"  Thank  goodness,  it 's  your  nose,  instead  of  mine, 
this  time,"  laughed  Cad  Nelson,  touching  her  much- 
abused  pug. 

"  Well,  that  celestial  little  appendage,"  began 
Wilton,  but  Phil  stopped  him. 

"  One  word  of  insult  towards  Miss  Nelson's 
nasal  organ,  and  your  own  will  assume  twice  its 
natural  size,  sir." 

Wilton  doubled  his  fists. 

"'  Lay  on  Macduff!'  I  will  fight  for  honor  and 
for  nose." 

"I  say,  Fairfax,"  murmured  Tom  Burton,  at  this 
juncture.  "  This  gets  monotonous.  A  fellow  doesn't 
mind  riding  a  mile  or  two  in  the  hot  sun  ;  but  when 
it  comes  to  ten — " 

'•'  Ten  !  your  grandmother,"  interrupted  Wilton  ; 
"  two,  you  mean.    And  here  we  are  at  last ;  so  cease 


174  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

your  grumbling,"  he  added,  as  they  drove  into  a 
large  grove  of  shade  trees,  and  the  wagons  were 
quickly  emptied  of  their  occupants. 

"What  shall  we  do  first?"  questioned  Jessie 
Fairfax. 

Wilton  gave  a  scornful  sniff. 

"  Do !  as  though  there  were  but  one  thing  to  do ! 

"  '  To  dinner!  to  dinner!  with  fork  and  with  knife! ' 

"  A  new  version  of  an  old  quotation.  Ladies, 
make  ready  for  the  onslaught." 

A  shady  spot  was  chosen  for  the  "  spread,"  and 
in  a  very  short  space  of  time,  sandwiches,  cake,  pie, 
et  cetera,  were  disappearing  with  great  rapidity. 

"  The  pickles,  if  you  please,  Miss  Nelson,"  re- 
quested Phil  Ellerton. 

"  That  looks  suspicious,  Mr.  Ellerton,"  she  an- 
swered, giving  him  an  arch  look.  "  That  is  the 
third  time  I  have  handed  them  to  you.  You  must 
be  in  love." 

Phil  looked  at  her,  over  the  pickle-jar. 

"  I  am,"  he  answered  significantly,  at  which  Cad 
blushed  crimson. 

"  Is  that  a  sign  of  love?  Then  hand  the  pickles 
immediately,"  said  Tom  Burton.  "lam  madly  in 
love  with  Miss  Lee  ;  only  she  won't  have  me." 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  175 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  "  asked  that  young  lady, 
pertly. 

"  Will  you,  Miss  Lee  ?  " 

Katie  laughed. 

"  Maybe.     I  will  see  how  you  behave,  first." 

"  Well,  what  did  I  tell  you  ?  "  groaned  Wilton 
Fairfax.  "  My  predictions  have  been  fulfilled. 
Here  is  a  daddy-long-legs  performing  gymnastic 
feats  upon  the  frosting  of  Miss  Tessy's  lemon  pie  ; " 
and  he  held  up  the  struggling  insect  between  his 
thumb  and  finger. 

"  Miss  Tessy,  what  shall  I  do  with  it?  " 

"  Eh  ?  "  questioned  Miss  Tessy  ;  then  seeing  the 
pie,  "Oh,  eat  it,  my  dear;  I  don't  want  it,  I  am 
sure." 

Wilton  bowed. 

"  Thank  you  for  the  kind,  disinterested  sugges- 
tion, Miss  Tessy  ;  but  my  stomach's  hardly  strong 
enough  to  permit  of  anything  of  the  kind  at  present. 
Well,  friends,"  he  continued,  folding  his  napkin 
resolutely,  "  I  have  said  nothing  about  the  party 
of  ants  that  have  been  promenading  up  and  down 
the  table-cloth  for  the  last  hour.  "  Indeed,  I  have 
even  winked  at  a  spider  or  two  ;  but  this  is  too 
much.  I  abdicate  the  throne  in  favor  of  'daddy,'" 
and  Wilton  sprang  up  from  the  grass  and  busied 


176  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

himself  in  selecting  a  shady  place  for  a  game  of 
"  graces." 

The  rest  soon  followed  Wilton's  example,  and 
"daddy"  and  the  ants  were  left  to  the  enjoyment 
of  such  portions  of  the  feast  as  were  scattered  about 
on  the  grass. 

"Miss  Katie,"  said  Ashely,  in  the  course  of  the 
afternoon,  after  an  exciting  game  of  "  graces "  in 
which  Katie  had  come  off  victorious,  "  will  you  take 
a  stroll  with  your  humble  servant  ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  she  answered,  picking  up  her  sun- 
bonnet  and  tying  it  under  the  dimpled  chin  ;  "  whith- 
er away  ?  " 

" '  Anywhere,  anywhere,  out  of  the  world ! '  " 

Katie  drew  back. 

"  No,  thank  you.  I  am  not  ready  to  leave  this 
sphere  at  present.  I  'd  '  rather  bear  those  ills  I  have, 
than  fly  to  those  I  know  not  of;'  so  you  will  have 
to  make  your  journey  alone." 

"  Well,  we  won't  leave  the  world  at  present, 
then,"  laughed  Ashely.  "  Here  is  a  cool  shady  place, 
Miss  Lee.     Shall  we  tarry  here  ?  " 

Katie  seated  herself  on  the  grass  and  pushed 
back  the  sun-bonnet  from  her  face,  letting  the  breeze 
play  lightly  with  the  dark  curls  that  clustered  about 
the  white  forehead. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  177 

Ashely  threw  himself  upon  the  grass  at  her  feet, 
and  lay  resting  upon  one  arm,  looking  up  at  her 
from  under  his  great  straw  hat. 

"Do  you  know,  Miss  Katie,"  he  said,  after  a 
pause,  idly  pulling  off  the  little  clover  tops  about 
him,  "that  I  shall  be  very  sorry  to  leave  Bellevue  ?" 

Katie's  face  assumed  its  most  innocent  expres- 
sion. 

"  Sorry  ?  oh,  so  will  I,  for  I  've  had  the  best 
time  imaginable.  Indeed,  I  think  every  one  will  be 
sorry  ;  don't  you  ?  " 

"  I  shall  be  more  than  sorry.  Katie,"  he  asked 
suddenly,  "  don't  you  know  that  you  are  very,  very 
beautiful  ?  " 

The  white  forehead  was  knotted  into  a  frown, 
and  she  raised  her  hand  with  a  little  impatient  ges- 
ture. 

"  Do  you  think  that  a  woman  cares  for  nothing 
else  but  flattery  ?  "  she  asked,  ungraciously.  "  I 
suppose  you  would  like  to  alter  the  catechism,  and 
say  that  woman's  chief  end  is,  to  be  admired." 

Ashely  looked  amused,  at  this  outburst. 

"Now,  you  know,  Miss  Katie,  that  you  do  not 
desire  to  be  very,  very  ugly,  do  you  ?  " 

Katie  sat  folding  the  hem  of  her  apron  into  little 

plaits." 

M 


178  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Well,  no,"  she  admitted  reluctantly,  "I  should 
not  want  to  be  very,  very  ugly.  But  then,  I  hate  flat- 
tery." 

"  And  so  do  I,"  echoed  Ashely,  smiling  tenderly 
up  into  the  blue  eyes  ;  "  but  I  did  not  flatter  you. 
Don't  you  know,  Katie,  that  your  face  is  the  sweet- 
est thing  on  earth  to  me  ? "  he  added  earnestly, 
raising  himself  upon  one  knee  and  taking  one  small 
hand  in  both  of  his  ;  "  Don't  you  know,  Katie,  that 
I  love  you  better  than  my  own  life  ?  Katie,  dare  I 
hope  to  win  you  as  my  own  ?  " 

She  sat  silent  a  moment,  as  if  stunned ;  then 
drawing  her  hand  from  him,  she  rose  quickly  to  her 
feet. 

"  Mr.  Ashely,  I  do  not  understand.  Don't  you 
know  that  I  am  —  that  I  can  not  love  you  ?  " 

He  seized  both  her  hands  in  his,  and  held  them 
so  tightly  that  they  throbbed  with  pain. 

"  Hush  !  do  not  tell  me  that !"  he  said,  hoarsely, 
"  anything  but  that,  Katie !  You  do  not  —  can  not 
know  how  truly  I  love  you.     Won't  you  try —  " 

"  You  git  'way  from  my  Mar's  Jack's  gal,"  in- 
terrupted an  indignant  voice,  and  the  next  moment 
Caleb  sprang  upon  Ashely  like  a  tiger,  and  struck 
right  and  left  with  his  little  black  fists. 

"  Where   on   earth  did   you   come   from  ?"   de- 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  179 

manded  Asheiy,  shaking  him  off  after  he  had  suf- 
ficiently recovered  the  first  surprise.  "And  in  the 
name  of  all  that's  good,  what  do  you  mean  ?" 

Caleb  stood  glaring  at  him  defiantly. 

"Nebber  rain'  whar  I  corned  from.  Dat's  my 
Mar's  Jack's  gal,"  pointing  to  Katie,  "an'  you 
hain't  got  no  bizness  a  techin'  her.  My  Mar's  Jack, 
an'  Miss  Katie  and  me,  all  done  got  begaged  toged- 
der  one  day,  so  we  did,  an'  my  Mar's  Jack's  gwine 
ter  kill  you  raos'  ter  def  w'en  he  cotches  a  holt 
on  ter  yer,  ef  you  don'  let  Miss  Katie  'lone." 

Asheiy  looked  puzzled. 

"  What  on  earth  does  he  mean  ?"  he  asked, 
turning  to  Katie. 

But  Katie  made  no  reply.  Her  face  was  deadly 
pale  and  her  eyes  were  fixed  upon  the  tall  figure 
that  stood  at  some  distance  from  them.  Every 
ray  of  color  had  left  Mar's  Jack's  face,  and  his  lips 
were  firmly  set  together.  He  came  forward  before 
Asheiy  had  time  to  speak. 

"Come,  Caleb,"  he  said,  in  a  low,  strange  voice, 
grasping  the  little  fellow's  arm.  "  I  beg  your  par- 
don for  the  intrusion,"  he  added,  lifting  his  hat 
without  raising  his  eyes,  and  walking  rapidly  away. 

Caleb  was  not  to  be  silenced  so  easily.  He  kept 
turning  around  and  shaking  his  little  fists  at  Asheiy 


180  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

and  exclaiming :  "  O,  we'se  gwine  ter  kill  you 
w'en  we  cotches  a  holt  on  ter  yer,  so  we  is,"  until 
they  were  out  of  sight.  Then  Katie  sank  upon 
the  ground  and  covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 
Ashely  came  and  bent  over  her. 

"  Katie,  Katie,  darling,  what  does  this  mean  ? 
What  is  the  matter?"  he  asked,  gently,  placing  his 
hand  upon  the  dark  wavy  hair. 

But  Katie  made  no  reply.  She  sat  silent  a  long 
time. 

"  Katie,"  he  whispered,  at  last,  "  Won't  you  tell 
me  ?" 

Then  she  sprang  up  and  pushed  him  away  from 
her. 

"  Go  away,  I  hate  you,"  she  cried,  passionately, 
her  whole  frame  trembling  with  emotion. 

A  numbed,  pained  feeling  seized  hold  upon  his 
heart. 

"Katie,  what  do  you  mean?  You  hate  me?" 
he  repeated,  slowly. 

"  Yes,  I  hate  you.  You  have  come  between  me 
and  the  only  man  I  ever  loved.  I  was  engaged 
to  Mar's  Jack,  and  now — now — all  is  over." 

Ashely's  face  was  very  white,  and  he  still  spoke 
in  the  same  low  tone. 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  181 

**  Engaged?  You  told  me  that  you  were  free, 
Katie?" 

She  had  lost  all  control  of  herself  now,  and 
standing  there,  with  the  sunbonnet  pushed  back 
from  the  face  flushed  with  passion,  she  looked  like  a 
little  angry  child. 

"I  know  it;  but  I  was  engaged,  and  I  am  en- 
gaged, and  I  only  said  I  wasn't  because  I  was  angry 
with  Mar's  Jack — and  I  wish  you  would  go  away;  I 
want  to  be  alone." 

Ashely  turned  away.  Then  he  came  slowly 
back  and  stood  with  folded  arms,  looking  fixedly 
at  her. 

"  Katie,  Katie,"  he  said  at  last,  "  What  have  I 
done  to  deserve  this  at  your  hands  ?" 

The  eyelids  fell,  and  the  brown  head  drooped 
before  him. 

"  I  have  forgotten  myself.  Forgive  me,"  she 
whispered  tremulously. 

"  Katie,  you  have  wronged  me  deeply,"  and  he 
turned  and  walked  rapidly  away. 

Katie  stood  looking  about  her  in  a  dazed  way  ; 
then  all  became  dark,  and  with  a  cry,  she  fell 
heavily  to  the  ground.  When  she  opened  her  eyes, 
some  one  was  bending  over  her.     Could  it  be  ?  Yes, 


182  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

it  was,  Mar's  Jack,  with  the  same  strange  look  upon 
his  face,  and  yet  Katie  thought  that  the  brown  eyes 
looked  yearningly,  even  tenderly,  into  her  own. 

For  one  moment,  one  long  happy  moment,  the 
blue  eyes  answered  that  look  ;  then  she  released 
herself  quickly  from  his  arms. 

"  You'se  been  mos'  dead,  Mis'  Katie,"  said  a  little 
voice,  that  tantalizing  voice  that  she  always  heard 
when  she  least  desired  to  hear  it. 

"  Yo'  face  was  jes'  as  white  an'  yo'  eyes  was  shet 
up  tight  like  dis,  an'  Mar's  Jack  tried  ter  kiss  dem 
open,  but —  " 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  a  sharp  nudge  from 
Jack's  elbow,  to  which,  as  usual,  he  gave  no  heed. 

"  Yes,  he  kissed  dem  an  awful  lot,  and  we  fought 
you'se  a  gwine  ter  die,  sho',  but  Mar's  Jack  rubbed 
yo'  han's  an'  face,  an'  douse  cole  water  on  yer,  an' 
now  you'se  mos'  peart's  eber,  ain't  yer  ?" 

Katie's  face  was  crimson. 

"  Thank  you  for  the  assistance  rendered  me," 
she  said,  hesitatingly,  bowing  to  Mar's  Jack  as  she 
started  to  leave  them. 

"  Katie,"  and  Mar's  Jack  placed  himself  before 
her. 

She  stopped. 

"Sir?" 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  183 

"  Have  you  nothing  to  say  to  me  ?" 

"  Nothing,"  she  answered,  coldly. 

"Not  one  word,  Katie?  Is  it  nothing  that  you 
have  this  day  proved  false  to  all  that  I  hold  sacred  ? 
Nothing,  that  you  have  tossed  aside  my  love  as  a 
child  would  throw  away  the  toy  that  no  longer 
pleased  its  fancy  ?  Nothing,  it  may  be  to  you,  Katie, 
but  to  me,  a  matter  of  the  deepest  import,  and  I  will 
have  an  explanation." 

The  blue  eyes  flashed  angrily. 

"What  right  have  you  to  speak  in  that  way, 
sir?" 

"What  right?  Have  I  not  every  right,  Katie? 
I  trusted  you  so  entirely  and  you  have  proven  whol- 
ly false." 

"  You  had  better  shut  me  up  where  no  one  can 
even  see  me,  if  you  are  so  much  afraid  of  my 
charms,"  with  a  slight  curl  of  the  lip.  "Could  I 
help  his  loving  me  ?  " 

"  You  encouraged  him,  Katie.  You  led  him  on 
— and  you  knew  how  wrong  it  was — you  knew  that 
you  were  mine." 

"I  am  not  yours,"  growing  angry  and  childish. 
"  What  right  have  you  to  send  that  ugly  little  Caleb 
to  spy  out  all  my  actions  ?  " 

"  He  nebber  sended  me,"  put  in  Cabe ;  "  I  hanged 


184  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

on  'hind  de  donkey  cart  all  de  way,  an'  he  nebber 
knowed  I'se  dah  till  we  got  heah." 

"I  will  not  stand  it,"  continued  Katie,  not  taking 
the  slightest  heed  of  Cabe's  interruption,  "  I  will  not 
be  watched  like  a  thief.  Henceforth  there  is  noth- 
ing more  between  us,"  and  she  slipped  the  ring  from 
her  finger  and  laid  it  in  his  hand. 

Mar's  Jack  remained  silent  a  moment. 

"  You  give  me  back  my  ring,  Katie  ?  " 

"  I  do." 

"  Then  this  ends  it  all,"  and  with  a  bitter  laugh 
he  tossed  it  from  him  into  the  tall  grass,  and  a  deep 
silence  fell  upon  them. 

Katie  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  I  will  go  back  to  the  others,"  she  said,  at  last. 

"  The  rest  have  gone  home." 

"  Gone  home  ?  "  she  gasped. 

"  Yes,  they  supposed  that  you  had  returned  home 
with" —  Mar's  Jack  hesitated,  "with — Ashely,  but 
I  thought  otherwise,  and  so  came  to  find  you."  He 
did  not  tell  her  that  he  had  seen  his  rival  take  a  short 
cut  to  Bellevue  on  foot. 

Poor  Ashely,  all  unconscious  that  the  others  had 
gone,  and  feeling  in  no  mood  to  answer  the  numer- 
ous questions  with  which  he  was  sure  of  bwig  pl.v?d 
had  started  to  Bellevue  alone. 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  185 

"What  shall  I  do?"  asked  Katie,  despairingly. 

"  I  have  Miss  Tessy's  donkey  cart,  if  you  will 
ride  with  me." 

"  Thank  you,  I  will  walk." 

"Very  well,"  and  Mar's  Jack  went  back  for  the 
cart,  well  knowing  that  she  would  not  long  hold  out 
in  this  resolution. 

Down  the  dusty  road  trudged  Katie,  the  donkey 
cart  coming  slowly  at  some  distance  behind  her. 

For  the  first  mile  she  held  out  bravely,  but  by 
and  by  her  steps  began  to  flag.  She  would  quicken 
her  pace  as  the  cart  approached,  but  it  finally  came 
up  to  her  and  passed  her.  Then  Mar's  Jack,  look- 
ing backward,  saw  a  little  figure  seated  on  a  stone 
by  the  roadside  resting  its  chin  upon  its  hands  and 
its  elbows  on  its  knees.  He  drove  back  and  getting 
out  lifted  her  as  he  would  have  done  a  little  wilful 
child,  and  placed  her  in  one  corner  of  the  cart.  They 
rode  on  in  silence.  Katie  felt  angry  and  uncomfort- 
able ;  she  was  at  variance  with  herself  and  the  whole 
world  beside.  She  had  looked  forward  with  so  much 
pleasure  to  the  visit  at  Bellevue,  and  this  was  the  end. 
She  had  deeply  wounded  Mar's  Jack,  had  treated 
Ashely  shamefully  and  had  made  herself  thoroughly 
wretched.    Well!  life  was  a  very  disappointing  thing 

after  all.     Reality  is  so  different  from  anticipation. 

8* 


186  CALEB.    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Then  how  was  she  to  meet  Ashely  on  her  return, 
and  what  was  she  to  do  about  Woodburn  ?  She  could 
never  go  back  there  to  live  now  ;  and  yet,  where 
could  she  go  ?  Her  father  was  still  in  Europe  and  she 
had  not  a  single  living  relative  with  whom  she  could 
stay.  But  she  could  never  stay  where  Mar's  Jack 
was — and  she  stole  a  glance  at  the  stern,  dark  face 
from  under  her  long  lashes — no,  not  for  worlds.  He 
treated  her  like  a  spoiled  child,  any  how.  What 
right  had  he  to  take  her  up  and  put  her  into  the 
buggy  with  so  little  ceremony  ?  and  the  blue  eyes 
flashed  indignantly.  She  was  very  angry  with  him. 
Yes,  she  was  sure  of  that.  Perhaps  she  would  feel 
differently  by  and  by  though.  Now,  if  they  were 
only  in  a  romance,  perhaps  the  buggy  would  break 
down  and  she  would  faint,  and  Mar's  Jack  would 
bend  over  her  and  call  her  his  darling  begging  her 
to  come  back  to  this  world,  and  he  would  forgive  all. 
But  no,  there  was  not  the  least  chance  for  any- 
thing, even  in  the  slightest  degree  romantic.  The 
cart,  rickety  and  old  as  it  was,  held  together  only  too 
well,  and  Billy  jogged  along  in  a  very  slow  and  com- 
mon-place manner.  Despite  her  misery,  Katie  felt 
a  wild,  uncontrollable  desire  to  laugh,  everything 
looked  so  ridiculous. 

There  was  Mar's  Jack  in  one  corner  of  the  seat 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  187 

and  she  in  the  other,  as  far  apart  as  it  was  possible 
to  be.  Caleb  was  seated  down  in  front  with  his 
chin  resting  upon  the  dash-board,  the  corners  of  his 
mouth  drawn  down  and  his  little  face  the  picture  of 
abject  woe  ;  even  Billy  seemed  affected  by  the  per- 
vading spirit  of  wretchedness,  and  trotted  along  with 
droopiug  ears  and  an  altogether  forlorn  aspect.  Katie 
stole  a  second  glance  at  Mar's  Jack  to  see  if  his  sense 
of  the  ridiculous  had  been  awakened,  but  he  looked 
straight  before  him  and  turned  his  eyes  neither  to 
the  right  nor  to  the  left,  so  she  settled  herself  back 
into  the  corner  and  heartily  coincided  with  Caleb, 
who,  when  they  reached  Bellevue,  exclaimed  with  a 
long  drawn  breath : 

"De  Lawd  knows,  I'm  glad  we'se  home," 


188  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 


'   CHAPTER    XIII. 

"Woman,  (hat  fair  and  fond  deceiver. 
How  prompt  are  striplings  to  believe  her. 

****** 
How  quick  we  credit  every  oath, 
And  hear  her  plight  her  willing  troth  ! 
Fondly  we  hope  'twill  laat  for  aye, 
When,  lo!    She  changes  in  a  day." 

TT^ATIE'S  dread  of  meeting  Ashely  increased  as 
-*-^-  they  neared  Bellevue.  Her  fears  were  ground- 
less, however,  as  he  had  gone  away  that  evening, 
pleading  an  urgent  business  call  as  his  excuse  for 
immediate  departure.  As  it  was  late  and  most  of 
the  guests  had  retired  to  dress  for  dinner,  Katie  went 
directly  to  her  own  room.  She  longed  to  throw  her- 
self upon  the  bed  and  have  a  good  hearty  cry ;  but 
no ;  Miss  Tessy  or  one  of  the  girls  might  come  in,  and 
she  did  hate  to  be  pitied  and  condoled  with.  Then 
she  did  not  care  to  appear  at  dinner  with  swollen 
eyes  and  a  nose  like  a  button,  for  one  never  looks 
pretty  when  one  cries,  despite  the  fact  that  story 
books  tell  of  "  her  lovely,  tear-stained  face."  No, 
taking  all  things  into  consideration,  she  would  not 
cry  ;  so  biting  the  red  lips  and  pressing  the  nails 
into  the  little  pink  palms,  she  nerved  herself  for  the 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  189 

ordeal.  What  should  she  wear  ?  She  must  look  her 
brightest  and  best  to-night.  So  donning  the  pretty 
blue  silk  that  Mar's  Jack  liked  so  well,  and  fasten- 
ing some  flowers  at  her  belt  and  in  the  dark  hair, 
she  surveyed  herself  critically  in  the  mirror. 

"  You  look  well  my  lady,  but  pale,  much  too  pale. 
You  must  never  play. the  '  maiden,  all  forlorn,' "  and 
she  rubbed  her  cheeks  until  they  glowed  brilliantly. 

"  There  !  You  will  do  now,"  and  she  walked  to 
the  door. 

"  O,  how  my  head  throbs!  "  placing  both  hands 
to  her  forehead ;  "  I  wish,  O,  I  wish  that  I  did  not 
have  to  go  down. 

"  There,  Katie  Lee,  I  am  ashamed  of  you,"  she 
added  with  a  little  nervous  laugh,  "  I  did  not  know 
that  you  could  be  so  weak  and  silly  ;  go  down,  at 
once,"  and  opening  the  door  she  ran  against  Cad 
Nelson. 

"  O,  Katie,  you  are  just  the  girl  I  want  to  see. 
You  look  just  lovely.     How  do  I  look?" 

"Pretty.     You  always  do,  Cad." 

"  Thanks.  Well,  I  ought  to  look  happy  to-night 
at  least.  O,  Kit,  I've  something  very  important  to 
tell  you.  I  am  dying  to  confide  in  somebody,  and  I 
like  you  better  than  any  of  the  other  girls.  Promise 
never  to  tell,  won't  you  ?  " 


190  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie  nodded. 

"  Well," — Cad  looked  up  and  down  the  hall  and 
then  leaned  over  and  whispered  in  Katie's  ear,  "  Phil 
and  I  are  engaged." 

Katie  hypocritically  expressed  the  surprise  that 
she  knew  was  expected,  for  Cad  and  Phil  honestly 
believed  that  they  had  been  the  most  decorous  of 
lovers,  and  that  no  one  even  suspected  anything 
between  them. 

"  I  am  sure  I  am  very  glad,  and  I  hope  that  you 
will  be  very,  very  happy,"  said  Katie,  softly — misery 
was  only  for  herself.  Indeed,  she  hoped  that  Cad 
would  never  know  what  it  was  to  be  so  wretched. 

There  was  a  softened  expression  in  Cad's  bright, 
brown  eyes. 

"  Indeed,  I  know  that  I  will  be  very,  very  happy. 
Phil  is  so  good  and  so  noble,  and  I  would  not  ask  to 
change  him  in  the  least.  He  could  not  do  anything 
that  would  displease  me,  and  I  don't  believe  we  shall 
ever  quarrel,  for  I  love  him  so  dearly." 

Katie  wondered  if  this  were  the  way  to  feel 
towards  one's  lover.  She  was  sure  that  Mar's  Jack 
had  done  many,  many  things  that  had  displeased  her. 
Certainly  they  had  quarreled  very  often.  She  must 
be  far  from  the  right  for  she  did  love  so  dearly  to 
have  her  own  way. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  191 

"Would you  give  up  anything  on  earth, for  him, 
Cad?" 

"  Indeed,  I  would.  Do  you  know,  Katie,  if  Phil 
were  to  ask  me  to  go  to  the  wilds  of  Africa  with  him, 
or  even  as  a  missionary  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  I 
would  leave  everything  and  go." 

Cad's  enthusiasm  was  unbounded. 

Katie  was  sure  now  that  she  was  very  far  in  the 
wrong.  She  was  sure  that  she  had  never  experienced 
any  such  pure,  noble,  unselfish  feelings.  She  was  very 
sure,  that  if  Mar's  Jack  had  asked  her  to  go  with 
him  as  a  missionary  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  she 
would  have  said  "  no,"  most  emphatically,  and  indeed 
would  have  been  very  much  horrified  at  the  idea. 
No,  she  had  never  felt  in  that  way. 

"  Cad,"  she  ventured  hesitatingly,  "Don't  }^ou 
really  think  that  )rou  will  ever  care  for  the  society 
of  any  other  persons — gentlemen  I  mean — now?" 

Cad  shook  her  head,  "  No,  I  a'm  quite  sure  ;  if  I 
have  Phil  I  do  not  care  if  I  never  even  see  anybody 
else  again." 

Katie  gave  herself  up  as  utterly  hopeless.  She 
remembered  with  a  pang  how  much  she  had  enjoyed 
talking  with  Ashely,  and  joking  and  flirting  with 
Wilton  Fairfax  and  Tom  Burton.  Yes,  she  was  quite 
a  hopeless  case. 


192  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Cad,"  she  said,  slowly,  putting  her  head  upon 
one  side  and  speaking  in  a  very  worldly-wise  tone, 
"No  matter  how  much  you  are  tempted,  don't,  for 
anything,  flirt." 

And  having  delivered  this  bit  of  sensible  advice, 
Miss  Lee  took  Cad's  arm  and  went  down  to  the 
dining  hall. 

Mar's  Jack  did  not  look  at  Katie  once  during 
dinner.  He  sat  between  his  mother  and  Jessie  Fair- 
fax, and  although  Katie  seemed  busily  engaged  in 
conversation  with  Wilton  Fairfax,  she  could  have 
given  a  detailed  account  of  Jack's  conduct  through- 
out the  entire  meal.  He  was  always  polite  and 
attentive  to  any  lady, — old  or  young,  but  he  cer- 
tainly seemed  very  anxious  to  please  Miss  Fairfax. 
Jessie  looked  very  pretty  in  the  delicate  pink  mus- 
lin, that  so  well  became  her  dark  beauty,  and  she, 
herself,  really  seemed  desirous  of  making  an  impres- 
sion upon  Mar's  Jack,  by  the  way  she  smiled  and 
glanced  up  at  him  from  under  the  dark  lashes.  But 
of  course  that  was  nothing  to  Katie  now.  Oh,  no  ! 
Mar's  Jack  was  free,  and  could  do  as  he  chose. 

Indeed  Jessie  Fairfax  would  be  a  good  wife  for 
him.  She  was  rich  and  pretty,  and  sweet  tempered 
and  then  she  never  flirted.  Yes,  Jessie  would  suit 
Mar's  Jack  much  better  than  she  had  done. 


CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  193 

Then  she  fell  to  picturing  a  scene  at  quiet,  old 
Woodburn,  viz  ;  tall,  graceful  Jessie,  seated  in  the 
drawing  room.  Mar's  Jack  bending  devotedly  over 
her,  while  Mrs.  Templeton  smiled  her  benediction 
on  the  happy  couple  from  the  other  side  of  the 
room. 

Indeed,  so  busily  was  she  engaged  in  dreaming, 
that  she  heard  not  one  word  of  the  amusing  story 
that  Wilton  was  relating,  and  when  he  asked 
her, 

"  What  do  you  think  about  it,  Miss  Katie,"  she 
answered, 

"  Well,  yes,  I  should  say  so,"  in  the  most  stupid 
manner  possible. 

But  Wilton  only  laughed  in  his  good  humored 
way,  as  they  arose  from  the  table,  and  said  that  he 
feared  that  the  day's  events  had  been  too  much  for 
her. 

To  which  she  answered,  with  a  strange  little 
laugh,  "  Indeed  they  have,  Mr.  Fairfax." 

The  drawing  room  was  full  to  overflowing,  and 
every  one  seemed  determined  to  make  this — the  last 
evening  at  Bellevue,  a  very  enjoyable  one,  indeed. 

Wilton  was  trotting  about  here  and  there,  arrang- 
ing a  programme  for  dancing. 

"  Don't  let  any  body  take  my  place,  please,  Miss 
N  9 


194  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie,  I  want  the  first  dance,  if  you  are  willing," 
he  said,  as  he  left  her  side  a  moment. 

Katie's  head  ached  severely.  She  was  nervous 
and  excited,  and  she  longed  to  escape  from  all  this 
noise  and  confusion.  Yet,  despite  the  old  adage 
that  "  he  who  fights  and  runs  away,  will  live  to 
fight  another  day,"  she  determined  to  stay  and  fight 
out  her  battle  against  self,  come,  what  might. 

Was  everyone  else  happy  but  herself?  Katie 
glanced  about  the  room. 

There  was  Cad  Nelson,  looking  so  pretty  and  so 
happy,  in  one  corner  next  to  Phil  Ellerton,  who  sat 
gazing  down  into  the  bright  eyes  with  a  look  that 
spoke  volumes. 

There  was  a  group  of  young  people,  standing 
near  the  piano,  laughing  and  talking  as  though  such 
things  as  "aohing  hearts,"  were  wholly  unknown. 

Yes — everybody  seemed  happy,  bat  her,  poor, 
lonely,  little  self. 

Even  Miss  Tessy  in  the  dotted,  green  silk,  and 
the  black  lace  shawl,  beamed  radiantly  over  the  top 
of  her  crimson  plush  fan  at  Old  Peter  Brown. 

But  flirting  was  a  dangerous  business  )even  for 
Miss  Tessy — she  must  warn  her  against  it.  The 
idea  struck  her  as  being  so  ridiculous,  however,  that 
she  smiled  in  spite  of  herself. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  195 

Wilton  coining  up  at  that  moment  imagined  the 
smile  was  for  him,  and  gave  one  of  his  brightest  in 
return. 

"  I  was  ever  so  sorry  to  be  gone  such  a  length 
of  time,  Miss  Katie,  but  one  of  those  long-tongued 
elderly  females,  button-holed  me,  and  I  couldn't 
get  away.     Will  you  dance  the  Reel  ?  " 

"  No,  my  head  aches,"  she  started  to  say,  but 
seeing  Mar's  Jack  take  his  place  with  Jessie  Fair- 
fax, she  answered  quickly. 

"  Yes,  indeed.  It's  a  great  favorite  of  mine," 
and  Wilton  led  her  out  upon  the  floor. 

How  Katie  danced  that  night ;  square  dances, 
round  dances,  dances  old  and  new.  She  seemed 
the  gayest  of  the  gay,  laughing  and  chatting  merrily, 
with  the  group  of  admirers,  that  continually  sur- 
rounded her. 

"  You  are  in  high  spirits  to  night,  little  one," 
old  Peter  Brown  had  said  to  her,  as  she  sat  carrying 
on  an  animated  conversation  with  Tom  Burton,  who 
bent  over  her  with  a  huge  palm  leaf  fan. 

"  High  spirits !  "  the  words  grated  harshly  upon 
her  ear. 

What  would  it  be  on  the  morrow  when  this 
exctiement  had  passed  away. 

"  A  lull  in  the  festivities — won't  some  one  favor 


196  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

us  with  a  song ;  Miss  Lee  for  instance  ?"  asked  Wil- 
ton Fairfax,  coming  towards  her. 

"  O,  no ;  excuse  me  please,  I  cannot  sing  to- 
night," she  answered  hurriedly.  Wilton  shook  his 
finger  at  her. 

"  Now  that's  too  bad  of  you,  Miss  Katie.  Who 
else  warbleth,"  he  asked,  turning  around. 

"  I'll  air  my  basso  profundo,"  laughed  Tom  Bur- 
ton, who  could  not  sing  a  note. 

Wilton  held  up  his  hand — 

"  Not  just  yet  my  friend  ;  wait  until  we  are  ready 
to  disperse,  then  one  of  your  little  tunes  will  clear 
the  hall  very  quickly." 

"  Here,  Jack,"  he  added,  turning  to  that  young 
gentleman.     "  Come  give  us  a  song." 

Jack  looked  up  and  Katie  knew  that  his  eyes  were- 
fixed  upon  her,  although  she  sat  looking  down  upon  a 
little  flower  which  she  was  idly  destroying.  **  I  do 
not  wish  to  mar  the  memory  of  a  pleasant  evening, 
Fairfax." 

"Why!  How  modest  and  self-depreciative  we 
are  growing  all  at  once,"  laughed  Wilton,  slapping 
Templeton's  back,  "  Come,  old  boy,  it  won't  do  to 
refuse  twice.  We  are  in  the  humor  for  such  suffer- 
ing as  you  can  inflict." 

Jack  rose  and  walked  to  the  piano 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  197 

"Very  well,  if  you  are  determined  to  be  tor- 
tured," and  he  sang  the  old,  old  song,  Katie  knew 
so  well. 

I  loved  a  lass,  a  fair  one, 

As  fair  as  e'er  was  seen  ; 
She  was  indeed  a  rare  one, 

Another  Sheba  queen ; 
But  fool  as  then  I  was, 

I  thought  she  lov'd  me  too, 
But  now,  alas,  she's  left  me. 

Falero,  lero,  loo. 

"  To  maidens'  vows  and  swearing 
Henceforth  no  credit  give  ; 
You  may  give  them  the  hearing, 
— -?rr  But  never  them  believe, 

VisCs  /0lA£-  'I-  yr  t    ^  They  are  as  false  as  fair  ; 

Unconstant,  frail,  untrue, 
For  mine,  alas  hath  left  me. 
Falero,  lero,  loo." 

Katie's  face  was  very  pale  as  the  last  note  died 
away,  but  when  Mar's  Jack  rose  from  the  piano  and 
gave  her  one  swift  look,  a  bright  spot  burned  in 
either  cheek  and  her  eyes  gleamed  defiantly.  She 
was  nervous,  restless  and  excited.  If  the  evening 
would  only  pass  more  quickly.  It  seemed  to  drag 
so  wearily.  Why  didn't  they  break  up  this  stupid 
gathering  ?  But  to  all  things  there  is  an  end,  and 
at  last  Katie  found  herself  bidding  the  guests  good- 
night, and  going  up  to  her  own  room. 


198  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

She  did  not  light  the  lamp  for  her  head  was  ach- 
ing violently,  and  laying  aside  the  dainty  dress,  she 
threw  herself  upon  the  bed,  but  only  to  toss  to  and 
fro.  Sleep  would  not  come.  By  and  by  she  heard 
the  door  slowly  open  and  Miss  Tessy  came  in. 

"Dear  me,"  Katie  heard  her  say,  "All  dark — 
the  child  must  have  gone  to  sleep,"  and  then  she 
heard  her  tip-toe  to  the  stand  and  fumble  about  in 
search  of  a  match.  Then  there  was  quite  a  bump- 
ing and  clatter  of  bottles — Miss  Tessy  was  nervous 
herself  to-night.  At  last  a  match  was  struck  and 
the  lamp  was  lit. 

Katie  closed  her  eyes  as  Miss  Tessy  looked 
towards  the  bed.  Presently  she  opened  them  a  little 
— then  wider — and  at  last  stared  outright.  Miss 
Tessy  was  certainly  acting  very  strangely  to-night. 
Very  strangely  indeed.  She  stood  looking  at  herself 
in  the  mirror  a  long  time.  Then  she  picked  up  the 
little  hand-glass  and  turning  around,  attempted  to 
get  a  back  view  of  the  beloved  green  silk  and  black 
lace  head  dress,  touching  lingeringly  the  cork-screw 
curls  and  smiling  tenderly  over  her  shoulder  at  her 
own  image  in  the  glass. 

It  was  certainly  very  strange.  Miss  Tessy's  mind 
must  be  affected,  and  Katie  fell  to  wondering  so 
much  over  the  fair  one's  conduct  that  she  forgot  to 


GALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  199 

close  her  eyes  when  Miss  Tessy  turned  around  sud- 
denly. 

"O  my,  dear,"  with  a  little  start,  "you  quite 
frightened  me  for  the  moment ;  I  thought  you  were 
asleep." 

"  No  'm,"  answered  Katie,  with  a  little  sigh,  "  I 
can't  sleep.     My  head  aches  so  dreadfully.'' 

Miss  Tessy  grew  solicitous  at  once,  for  she  was 
a  very  tender-hearted  little  body,  despite  her  many 
eccentricities. 

"  Head  ache  ?  I  am  so  sorry.  Just  let  me  slip 
on  a  loose  wrapper,  and  I  will  come  and  bathe  your 
head  with  cologne. 

"  Now,  my  dear,"  she  said,  shortly  afterwards, 
seating  herself  by  the  bed,  "  we  will  drive  this  ugly 
headache  away  in  no  time.  There  !  that  feels  better, 
doesn't  it?"  placing  a  handkerchief,  wet  with  co- 
logne, about  the  throbbing  brow. 

"  Oh,  yes  'm,"  answered  Katie,  gratefully.  "  You 
are  so  good,  Miss  Tessy  !  " 

"  No,  no,  my  dear ;  not  very  good.  You  would 
do  the  same  for  me,  I  am  sure  ;  but  I  ought  to  be 
good  to  night,  my  dear,"  and  Miss  Tessy  smiled  and 
nodded  mysteriously.  "  I  have  something  to  tell 
you  ;  but  promise  you  '11  never  tell.  You  won't  tell, 
will  you,  my  dear  ?  " 


200  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  No  'ru,"  answered  Katie,  not  knowing  what 
else  to  say,  and  vaguely  wondering  what  was  forth- 
coming. 

Miss  Tessy  sat  silent  a  few  moments,  and  then 
she  leaned  forward  and  whispered  in  Katie's  ear : 

"  We  're  engaged." 

Katie's  eyes  opened  wide. 

"  Ma'am  ?  " 

"  We  're  engaged,  my  dear.  Why  don't  you 
congratulate  me  ?  "  and  Miss  Tessy  laughed  coyly. 

"  Who  is  the  other  one?"  stammered  Katie,  in 
amazement. 

Miss  Tessy  smiled  and  dropped  her  eyes. 

"  Oh,  you  mean  the  man.  Why,  that 's  Peter — 
I  mean  Mr.  Brown,  the  Hon.  Peter  Brown,  my 
dear." 

Katie  bit  her  lip  and  clutched  at  the  covering. 
Despite  the  throbbing  head,  it  was  all  she  could  do 
to  keep  her  face  straight.  Old  Peter  Brown  and 
Miss  Tessy — oh,  it  seemed  too  funny  ! 

"  He  's  not  very  handsome,  my  dear,  and  there 
is  no  denying  that  in  my  younger  days  1  might  have 
done  better  ;  but  he  comes  of  a  good  old  family,  and 
is  very  well  to  do.  But  really,  my  dear,  I  don't  think 
Peter  —  I  mean  Mr.  Brown  —  would  let  me  refuse 
him.     He  says  I  am  perfectly  indispensable  to  his 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  201 

happiness.     So  I  think  I  am  doing  my  duty  in  try- 
ing to  brighten  his  life  ;  don't  you,  my  dear  ?  " 

.  "Yes'm,"  answered  Katie  faintly.  She  dared 
not  say  much,  for  she  was  still  possessed  with  an 
insane  desire  to  laugh,  and  she  would  not  have  in- 
jured Miss  Tessy's  feelings  for  all  the  world. 

She  longed  to  ask  Miss  Tessy  if  she  would  be 
willing  to  go  as  a  missionary  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  with  old  Peter  Brown. 

"Yes,"  continued  Miss  Tessy,  nodding  her  head, 
"  I  really  think  I  am  doing  my  duty.  I  do  not  want 
to  enter  into  anything  rashly,  my  dear  ;  and  I  want 
to  understand  my  own  heart.  Marriage  without 
love,  my  dear,  is  a  dreadful  thing  ;^but  I  have  always 
respected  Mr.  Brown,  and  now  I  think  that  there 
has  grown  up  a  quiet  affection  in  my  heart  for  Peter, 
which  I  hope  will  last  through  life.  Yes ;  I  think 
this  is  the  first  time  my  heart  has  been  deeply 
touched,"  and  she  thereupon  launched  into  a  detailed 
account  of  her  life,  from  its  earliest  stages  down  to 
the  present  time,  describing  vividly  her  numerous 
admirers  and  their  impassioned  declarations.  "  But 
there,  my  dear,"  she  said,  stopping  suddenly  at  last, 
"I  forgot  all  about  the  headache.    Are  you  better  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes  'm,  thank  you.  I  think  I  shall  rest 
quietly  now." 


202  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Well,  it  is  late,  and  we  must  put  out  the  light, 
and  both  go  to  sleep,"  said  Miss  Tessy,  and  suiting 
the  action  to  the  word,  she  blew  out  the  light  and 
got  into  bed  with  much  more  alacrity  than  was  her 
wont,  even  forgetting — wonder  of  wonders — to  read 
one  of  Saurin's  sermons,  so  demoralizing  is  love,  i 


CALEB,    THE   IliREPiiEiSSIBLE.  208 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"This  hour  we  part !    My  heart  forboded  this ; 
Thus  everfade  my  fairy  dreams  of  bliss." 

T3ACK  again  to  Woodburn,  but  not  to  the  old 
•■*—  happy  days ;  they  were  gone  forever.  Back, 
from  the  gayety  of  Belle vue — from  the  careless, 
merry  companions,  very  few  of  whom  ever  came  into 
Katie's  life  again — to  the  quiet  of  the  old  homestead, 
which  change  would  perhaps  have  been  refreshing 
but  for  the  feeling  existing  between  herself  and 
Mar's  Jack.  To  Katie,  life  seemed  almost  unendur- 
able. She  must  leave  Woodburn,  that  was  certain. 
She  could  not  meet  Mar's  Jack,  day  after  day,  with 
that  constraint  existing  between  them.  He  was 
quiet  and  courteous,  and  yet,  so  changed  from  his 
old,  merry  self. 

Katie  longed,  sometimes,  to  put  her  hand  in  his 
and  ask  him  to  forgive  and  to  forget  all ;  but  of  this 
Mar's  Jack  never  dreamed.  If  he  had — suppositions 
are  useless,  however.  He  thought  her  wholly  indif- 
ferent to  him — glad  to  be  free  from  the  bonds  that 
were  irksome  to  her.     And  a  little   incident   that 


204  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

occurred  shortly  after  their  return  to  Woodburn, 
confirmed  him  in  his  belief. 

One  morning,  while  at  breakfast,  they  were 
startled  by  a  great  outcry,  and  Aunt  Dinah  came, 
leading,  or  rather,  dragging  Caleb  into  the  dining- 
hall. 

"  Why,  what  is  the  matter,  aunty  ?"  questioned 
Mrs.  Templeton. 

"  Matter,  Miss  Alice  ?  La,  dere's  matter  'nuff. 
Dis  heah  imp  ob  Satan  has  done  got  a  hold  ob  Miss 
Katie's  pearl  ring  some  way  or  udder,  and  an'  I 
toated  him  heah  to  make  him  give  it  back.  An'  den," 
she  added,  turning  to  Caleb,  "  O  you  needn't  roll 
up  dem  white  eyes  o'  yourn  ;  fur  it's  a  comin'  an' 
it's  a  gwine  ter  leab  you  so  berry  warm,  young  man, 
dat  you  won't  keer  to  go  near  ter  de  stove  fur  a 
whole  week." 

Caleb  whimpered. 

"  Dis  heah's  my  ring,  too,  so  'tis.  I  foun'  it,  an' 
Mar's  Jack  went  an'  frowed  it  'way  from  him,  so  it 
'longs  ter  me.  Ax  him  ef  it  don't.  I  picked  it  up 
outen  de  grass,  whar  we  went  to  de  pickernick  onct, 
too,  so  I  did." 

Aunt  Dinah  eyed  him  contemptuously. 

"  You  needn't  be  tryin'  ter  dislude  dis  niggah 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  205 

kasen  her  head's  all  soun'  !  Dat  lickin's  a  comin' — 
Heah  me  ?" 

"  Heah  is  yo'  ring  M&r's  Jack.  " 

Jack  had  risen  from  the  table.  He  took  the 
little  ring  in  his  hand,  and  stood  looking  at  it  a  few 
moments. 

"  This  ring  belongs  to  Katie,"  he  said  in  a  low- 
tone,  looking  down  with  something  of  the  old  ten- 
derness upon  the  pretty  brown  head,  and  downcast 
eyes.    "  Perhaps  she  will  take  it  again." 

Katie  sat  balancing  her  spoon  upon  the  edge  of 
her  coffee  cup,  as  though  the  obtaining  of  an  even 
balance  were  a  matter  of  the  deepest  import. 

"  Pardon  me — the  ring  is  not  mine,  and  I  do  not 
wish  it.  Pearls  always  bring  trouble  you  know.  " 
How  thoroughly  she  despised  herself. 

A  shadow  crossed  Jack's  face,  and  he  set  his 
teeth  together  to  keep  back  a  quick  reply. 

"  Here  is  your  ring,  Caleb,"  with  an  emphasis  on 
the  your,  "  Do  not  punish  him,  Aunt  Dinah.  The 
fault  lies  with  me,"  he  added,  in  a  low  tone,  fixing 
his  eyes  upon  Katie,  "  I  thought  that  the  pearl  was 
mine.  Only  one  of  my  many  mistakes,  that  was 
all,"  and  he  left  the  room.  And  again  the  little  ring 
which,  at  another  time,  would  have  been  treasured 
as  a  sacred  relic,  fell  into  Caleb's  hands. 


206  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Auat  Dinah  glanced  from  Katie  to  Mrs.  Temple- 
ton  in  astonishment. 

"  Now  I  tole  yer  so,  mammy,"  said  Caleb,  in  an 
injured  tone,  "  dis  heah's  my  ring,  my  lubiy  pearl 
ring,"  putting  it  on  his  finger,  and  patting  it  approv- 
ingly. 

Then  —  suddenly  remembering  the  threatened 
"dressing,  "  he  looked  up  quickly. 

"  Mar's  Jack  telled  you  not  to  lick  me,  mammy." 

His  mother  made  no  reply.  She  turned  slowly 
and  left  the  room  muttering, — "  Well  I  nebber. 
Dere's  some  mighty  queer  tings  in  dis  heah  worl'." 

Mar's  Jack  felt  convinced  now,  that  Katie  cared 
nothing  for  him. 

Katie,  on  her  part,  realized  all  the  more  strongly 
how  unpleasant  was  her  position  at  Woodburn. 

"  Why  did  papa  leave  me  here?"  she  question- 
ed over  and  over  again — "  But  I  won't  blame  papa," 
she  would  add,  "for  how  was  he  to  know  what 
a  stubborn  wilful  daughter  he  had." 

Yes — she  must  go  away.     But  where  ?     Never 
mind  she  must  go — of  that   she    was   determined 
But  on  talking  to  Mrs.  Templeton,  she  found  that 
lady  as  determined  as  was  she. 

"You  are  very  foolish,  my  child,"  surmising 
Katie's  reasons  for  leaving   Woodburn.  "  Your  fa 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  207 

ther  left  you  in  my  charge,  and  I  will  not  relinquish 
his  daughter  until  he  comes  to  claim  her — although 
she  does  want  to  run  away  from  me. 

"  I  may  not  approve  of  your  conduct,  pardon 
the  allusion,  for  my  son  is  very  dear  to  me,  but 
Katie,"  she  added  gently,  placing  her  hand  under 
the  dimpled  chin,  and  raising  Katie's  face  to  hers, 
"  I  know  that  you  are  very  young,  and  have  no  mo- 
ther to  guide  you  child." 

There  was  an  unwonted  tenderness  in  Mrs. 
Templeton's  voice,  and  the  quick  tears  sprang  into 
the  blue  eyes. 

"  I  mean  to  do  right,"  Katie  said,  checking  a 
little  sob,  "  but  I  always  do  wrong." 

Mrs.  Templeton  drew  Katie  to  her  side,  and  the 
reserved,  stately  woman  became  very  gentle  and 
tender.  "  Poor  little  girl,"  was  all  she  said,  as  she 
kissed  the  white  forehead,  but  on  that  day  Katie 
felt  that  she  had  found  a  mother. 

She,  however,  was  not  destined  to  be  annoyed 
by  Mar's  Jack's  presence. 

It  was  one  evening,  several  days  after  this,  that. 
on  starting  to  go  up  stairs,  she  met  him  in  the  hall. 

"Katie,"  he  said  in  a  low  tone,  placing  his  hand 
on  her  arm  to  detain  her. 

Why  did  she  blush  so  consciously,  and  why  were 


208  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

the  white  lids  held  down  so  firmly  over  the  blue 
eyes?     Katie  was  angry  with  herself. 

"  Katie,  mother  says  that  you  want  to  run  away 
from  Woodburn.  I  know  my  presence  is  annoying 
to  you,  but  I  will  not  trouble  you  longer.  I  am 
going  to  Richmond  to-morrow." 

Katie's  heart  sank. 

"  Mar's  Jack  going  to  leave  the  old  homestead," 
and  she  had  driven  him  away. 

"No,  no,"  she  cried,  quickly.  "  You  must  not  go." 

Jack's  face  brightened. 

"  Katie,  if  I  thought,"  he  began,  eagerly,  then 
stopped  seeing  her  draw  back  from  him,  "but,  no, 
it  can  not  be,"  in  a  low  voice.  "My  arrangements 
are  made.  I  must  go.  Mother  thinks  it  will  be 
better,  for  many  reasons." 

O,  wilful  Katie  !  One  word — one  look  would 
have  brought  him  to  your  side,  and  much  of  the 
dreariness  and  pain  of  the  long  weary  days  that 
followed  would  perhaps  have  been  spared  you  both. 

"I  may  not  see  you  again,  Katie,  as  I  start  early 
in  the  morning,"  Mar's  Jack  continued,  in  the  same 
low  tone.     "  I  must  say  good-by  to-night." 

She  reached  out  her  hand,  but  he  suddenly 
caught  them  both  in  his  own  and  pressed  them  to 
his  lips. 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  209 

"  Katie,  Katie,  you  will  never  know  how  clearly  I 
love  you,"  and  the  next  moment  he  was  gone.  Gone, 
before  she  could  reach  out  her  arms  to  him  and  ask 
forgiveness.  Love  her  ?  How  could  he  love  the 
girl  who  had  wronged  him  and  then  had  driven  him 
from  his  home  ?  How  wretched  and  unhappy  she 
was !  Katie  hurried  to  her  own  room  and  threw 
herself  upon  the  bed  in  a  passion  of  tears.  There 
was  Ruth  Templeton  looking  down  mournfully 
upon  her  from  over  the  mantel.  She  almost  hated 
the  face  now.  The  great,  sad  eyes  seemed  to  watch 
her  every  movement  until,  at  last,  she  arose  and 
turned  the  picture  to  the  wall.  Then  she  sat  upon 
the  edge  of  the  bed,  fully  determined  to  stay  awake 
all  night  and  watch  for  Mar's  Jack's  departure.  A 
long  time  she  sat  gazing  out  into  the  night,  while  a 
thousand  fancies  crowded  into  her  brain.  But  at 
last,  despite  repeated  efforts  to  keep  awake,  the 
tired  head  drooped  and  Katie  fell  fast  asleep. 

So  Mar's  Jack  went  away  without  even  a  glimpse 
of  the  pretty  face  at  the  window,  although  he  looked 
back  several  times.  Away  from  dear  old  Woodburn> 
with  no  one  to  say  good-by  or  to  wish  him  journey 
blessings,  for  he  had  taken  leave  of  his  mother  last 
evening,  and  he  would  not  have  her  disturbed. 

No  one — did  I  say?    I  was  wrong.     The  ever 


210  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

faithful  little  shadow  trotted  after  him  down  the 
avenue,  the  feet  encased  in  the  red-topped  boots 
(their  glory,  alas !  departed).  He  was  further 
adorned  with  a  new  pair  of  pants  and  a  checked 
shirt,  the  sleeves  of  which  were  in  constant  requisi- 
tion to  wipe  away  the  tears  that  would  come, 
despite  his  efforts  at  manliness. 

"  Look  here,  Cabe,"  and  Mar's  Jack  attempted  to 
speak  jocularly.  "  We  shall  not  need  any  rain  for  a 
month  if  you  dispense  such  copious  showers.'* 

But  Caleb's  tears  only  flowed  the  faster. 

"  Here,  child,  this  won't  do.  You  must  not  feel 
so  badly.     I  am  coming  back  again." 

"  Mar's  J — J — Jack — my  he — heart's — agwine — 
ter — bust,"  and  the  little  fellow  broke  down  com- 
pletely 

Jack  felt  inclined  to  smile,  but  he  looked  down 
kindly  on  the  tearful,  dusky  little  face.  Faithful 
heart,  full  to  overflowing  with  love  for  its  idol. 
More  faithful,  more  constant  than — but  he  would 
not  recall  the  past.  He  laid  his  hand  upon  Caleb's 
shoulder. 

"  Come,  come,  don't  take  it  so  much  to  heart.  I 
told  you  that  I  was  coming  back  again.  Here  is  the 
carriage.     I  have  a  few  words  to  say  to  you  before 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  211 

I  go.  If  you  are  so  fond  of  Mar's  Jack  you  must  do 
as  he  says.     Do  you  hear  ?" 

Caleb  nodded. 

"  Well,  first,  you  must  try  and  be  a  good  boy 
while  I  am  away.     Won't  you  ?  " 

Caleb  paused. 

"  Dat's  gwine  ter  be  a  berry  hard  fing  to  do," 
he  answered,  drawing  a  long  breath. 

Jack  smiled. 

"  I  know  it  will  be  hard,  but  the  '  hard  things  '  are 
what  we  must  conquer  in  this  life.  You  will  try  for 
my  sake,  won't  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  sah,"  and  Caleb  checked  another  deep 
sigh. 

"  You  must  not  run  after  the  hens." 

"  I'se  gotten  ober  dat ;  mammy  licks  too  hard,"  in- 
terrupted Caleb,  looking  up  with  something  of  his 
old  sauciness. 

"And  you  must  not  let  the  cows  out  of  the 
meadow,  or  go  into  the  house  with  muddy  feet,  or 
tease  and  annoy  the  servants.  Do  you  under- 
stand?" 

Caleb  felt  very  low-spirited.  Mar's  Jack  was 
shortening  his  list  of  pleasures  to  a  very  great  extent. 

"  Ef  I  can't  do  none  ob  dose  fings  I'se  a  gwine 
ter  die  foah  you  gets  home,"  he  said,  disconsolately. 


212  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  O,  no,"  said  Jack,  laughing.  "  I  don't  believe 
so.  Anyhow,  be  as  good  as  you  can.  And  now, 
Caleb,"  he  added,  lowering  his  voice,  "  I  have  one 
more  request  to  make  of  you.  Do  not  annoy  Miss 
Katie  in  any  way.  I  want  you  to  obey  her  implicitly, 
and  be  good  to  her,  won't  you?" 

Caleb  frowned  and  eyed  his  red-topped  boots  in- 
tently for  a  few  moments. 

"  No,  I  won't,  neider,"  he  said  emphatically,  at 
last. 

Mar's  Jack  looked  astonished. 

"  Why,  Caleb  ;  I  thought  you  were  very  fond  of 
Miss  Katie  ?  " 

"  Were  onct — ain't  no  mo' — now  I  hates  her." 

"Hate  her,  Caleb?" 

"Yes,  sah!" 

"  Why,  what  has  she  ever  done  to  make  you  dis- 
like her?" 

"Nuffin  ter  me.  She  were  mean  ter  you  an'  I 
hates  her,"  he  summed  up,  decidedly. 

Mar's  Jack  placed  both  his  hands  upon  Caleb's 
shoulders. 

"  Look  up  into  my  face,  Caleb.  No  matter  what 
Miss  Katie  may  have  done,  remember  that  I  love  her 
very,  very  dearly.  Do  as  I  ask  for  ray  sake,  won't 
you  ?     Good  by,"  and  Mar's  Jack  sprang  into  the 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  213 

carriage,  leaving  a  tearful  little  figure  looking  after 
the  rapidly  disappearing  vehicle.  When  it  had 
entirely  disappeared  from  view  Caleb  turned  and 
trotted  slowly  up  the  avenue,  saying  tearfully  to 
himself,  "  O,  Mar's  Jack,  I  finks  I'se  gwine  ter  die 
thouten  you." 


214  CALEB,   THE  IKBEPiiESSIBLE. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

"  Walt ;  my  faith  Is  large  In  time, 
And  that  which  shapes  it  to  some  perfect  end." 

/~\NE  YEAR — two  years  passed  away.  Great  was 
^-^  the  change  at  Woodburn.  Excitement  and 
anxiety  had  taken  the  place  of  the  calm  restfulness 
of  other  days.  Every  mail  was  watched  for  ;  every 
paper  was  closely  scanned,  and  every  passing  mes- 
senger was  eagerly  interrogated,  for  the  war  had 
broken  out,  and  Mar's  Jack  (who  had  not  returned 
to  Woodburn  since  leaving)  had  enlisted  in  the 
Southern  army. 

Still,  despite  all  this,  life  moved  on  in  the  same 
routine,  and  there  was  little  to  remind  them  of  the 
strife  that  waged  without.  True,  there  was  quite 
an  excitement  at  the  old  homestead  when  it  was 
announced  about  the  third  year  of  the  war,  that  an 
encampment  of  soldiers  was  stationed  about  two 
miles  to  the  west  of  them,  but  they  only  saw  a  few 
stragglers  now  and  then. 

Mrs.  Templeton  dreaded  the  sight  of  "those 
blue  coats,"  but  Katie's  heart  was  with  her  country«s 


CALEB,   THE  IEREPKESSIBLE.  215 

soldiers,  while  Caleb  delighted  in  any  uniform,  blue 
or  gray,  and  a  soldier  was  his  beau  ideal  of  manhood. 

Why  was  Katie  at  Woodburn?  We  have  only 
to  glance  at  the  dark  mourning  robes  and  the  pretty 
face,  sadder,  paler,  but  more  womanly  than  of  yore, 
to  know  that  she  had  been  left  alone  in  the  world. 
Her  father  had  been  lost  at  sea,  and  long  and  weary 
were  the  days  of  sickness  and  pain  that  followed 
the  news  of  his  death.  On  her  recovery  Mrs.  Tem- 
pleton  would  not  hear  of  her  leaving  Woodburn. 

"Do  not  desert  me,  Katie,"  she  pleaded.  "  My 
boy  has  gone  and  I  am  very,  very  lonely."  So  it  was 
that  Katie  remained.  She  had  changed  much  in 
these  years.  The  wayward,  selfish  girl  was  growing 
thoughtful  and  womanly.  She  was  Mrs.  Templeton's 
main  stay  and  support,  and  took  most  of  the  house- 
hold care  from  off  her  hands.  She  had  once  more  found 
her  way  into  Caleb's  good  graces,  but  that  young  gen- 
tleman did  not  follow  her  around  as  closely  as  of 
old.  His  whole  time  and  attention  were  occupied 
with  the  inimitable  Billy,  Miss  Tessy's  donkey,  or 
rather  his  own  donkey  now.  For  Miss  Tessy  and 
the  Hon.  Peter  Brown  having  at  last  consummated 
their  mutual  desire  to  become  one,  Billy  had  been 
given  to  Katie  by  the  happy  bride,  as  a  token  of 
regard,  and  Katie  thereupon  secretly  transferred  the 


216  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

gift  to  Caleb.  Billy  was  the  one  all-absorbing  idea 
with  that  young  gentleman  at  present,  and  he  (Caleb) 
was  scarcely  off  the  donkey's  back  a  moment.  He 
fed,  coaxed  and  petted  him  at  times,  and  at  others 
teased  the  poor  little  donkey  so  unmercifully  that  at 
last  forbearance  ceased  to  be  a  virtue,  and  Billy's 
hind  legs  flew  about  quite  vigorously.  Katie  laughed 
merrily  when  Caleb  asked  Mrs.  Templeton  to  send 
a  message  to  Mar's  Jack  in  one  of  her  letters,  viz : 
"  That  he  usen  ter  be  lonely  thouten  Mar's  Jack, 
but  now  he  had  Miss  Tessy's  donkey,  he  didn't  keer 
so  much." 

Billy  had  only  one  enemy  at  Bellevue,  and  that 
was  Aunt  Dinah,  who,  striking  at  him  in  an  angry 
mood  one  day,  had  received  the  print  of  his  little 
hoofs  in  her  fat  arm.  From  thenceforth  she  was  Bil- 
ly's sworn  enemy,  and  she  expressed  the  wish  a  dozen 
times  a  day,  that  some  one  would  come  and  steal 
"  that  ugly,  long-eared  critter  away." 

A  wish  which  was  (alas,  for  Caleb)  soon  to  be 
realized. 

It  was  one  hot  day  in  summer,  about  the  third 
year  of  the  war,  that  Aunt  Dinah  was  engaged  in 
the  useful  occupation  of  bread-making,  when  she 
found  among  other  things  that  she  needed  some  milk. 
So  taking  up  a  tin  quart  measure  she  started  for  the 


CALEB,    THE   IRllEPItESSIBLE.  217 

house.  As  she  neared  the  side  veranda,  where  the 
large  chest  was  kept,  she  fancied  she  heard  a  stealthy 
step  near  the  milk  pans.  "Am  dat  Oaleb  ?  "  she  ques- 
tioned herself,  tip-toeing  with  as  little  noise  as  her 
great  weight  would  permit. 

What  a  sight  met  her  view ! 

There  was  one  of  those  dreaded  blue  coats  kneel- 
ing upon  his  knees,  licking  the  cream  off  the  milk 
in  one  of  Aunt  Dinah's  large  stone  crocks.  Her 
wrath  knew  no  bounds,  and  darting  forward  before 
the  unfortunate  thief  had  time  to  even  think,  she 
pushed  his  whole  head  down  into  the  crock. 

"  Dere,  take  dat  fur  your  imperence,"  she  cried 
wrathfully,  "de  ideah  ob  gwine  an'  stealin'  de  cream 
ob  de  quality,  an'  worsen  dat,  lickin'  it  offen  de  milk. 
Ain't  yer  got  no  manners?" 

But  the  astonished  soldier  did  not  essay  to  speak. 
His  head  and  face  were  covered  with  cream  and  little 
white  rivulets  trickled  down  on  his  blue  coat. 

"  Ef  yer  wanted  milk  why  didn't  yer  ax  fur  it 
an'  drinken  it  outen  a  cup  like  white  folks." 

The  blue  coat  muttered  something  between  his 
teeth  and  began  mopping  himself  with  his  hand- 
kerchief. 

Aunt  Dinah  stood,  with  arms   akimbo,  eyeing 

him  contemptuously. 
jo 


218  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"Now,  don't  yer  feel  nice  an'  comfutable? 
Dat  's  de  way  you's  alius  a  gwine  ter  git  sarved,  ef 
yer  comes  a  foolin'  roun'  me." 

"What's  the  matter,  now,  aunty  ?  "  asked  an- 
other soldier,  coming  up  the  veranda  steps. 

Aunt  Dinah  pointed  to  the  delinquent. 

"  Matter  ?  Dere  's  matter  'nuff !  Dat  po'  white 
trash  has  been  lickin'  de  cream  off  'n  de  milk,  an' — 
well,  jes  look  at  him  for  yo'self." 

The  new  comer  comprehended  the  situation 
at  a  glance,  and,  throwing  back  his  head,  laughed 
heartily. 

"  You  are  worsted  in  this  fight,  Jim,  that 's  cer- 
tain. Come,  acknowledge  yourself  beaten,  and 
treat  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities." 

The  cream-colored  individual,  however,  did  not 
deign  to  reply,  and,  stalking  angrily  past  his  com- 
rade, made  straight  for  the  well,  where,  after  a 
good  drenching,  he  raised  a  clean,  bat  a  very  red 
and  angry  face.  , 

He  looked  about  him  with  an  expression  that 
meant  mischief ;  but  Satan  having  provided  nothing 
there  for  his  idle  hands  to  do,. he  turned  from  the 
place,  inwardly  vowing  vengeance  upon  any  unfor- 
tunate creature  from  Woodburn,  who  might  chance 
to  *ross  his  path. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  210 

As  the  fates  would  have  it,  he  met  Caleb,  sitting 
astride  Billy's  back,  riding  up  the  avenue.  Nearer 
and  nearer  came  the  unconscious  pair  on  to  their 
fate. 

"  Halt ! "  ordered  the  blue  coat ;  and  Caleb,  with 
his  blind  reverence  for  soldiers,  obeyed  immedi- 
ately. 

"  Git  down  off  that  animal,  sir." 

Caleb  did  not  seem  disposed  to  mind  this  second 
command,  but  seeing  the  gleaming  bayonet,  he  con- 
cluded that /discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor,\ 
and  dismounted ;  at  which  the  soldier  leaped  upon 
Billy's  back  and  rode  away,  before  Caleb  had  even 
time  to  so  much  as  wink. 

At  first  the  little  fellow  stood  looking  about  him 
in  a  dazed  way,  speechless  with  indignation  and  sur- 
prise ;  then  he  turned  suddenly  and  darted  after  the 
rapidly  disappearing  donkey,  crying  : 

"  O  Billy,  Billy  !  Dey  's  done  tooken  my  las' 
comfut  'way  fromed  me  !  " 

Down,  down  the  dusty  road  ran  the  little  feet. 
The  donkey  was  out  of  sight  now,  but  Caleb  trotted 
on  until  the  camp  appeared  to  view.  Here  he 
paused  with  an  awed  feeling. 

"  So  many  tents,  and  so  many  sojers  !  " 

How  was  he  ever  to  recover  the  beloved  Billy  ? 


220  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Go  forward,  he  dared  not ;  retreat,  he  would  not. 
Caleb  was  in  a  quandary. 

"  Well,  Caleb,  what  do  you  want  ?  "  and  looking 
up,  he  saw  the  handsome  face  of  young  Ashely. 

He  started  as  if  to  run  away,  remembering  that 
Ashely  had  old  scores  to  settle,  but  a  reassuring 
hand  was  laid  upon  his  arm. 

"  Don't  be  frightened,"  said  Ashely,  smiling.  "  I 
do  not  bear  you  any  grudge.  What 's  the  matter  ? 
Anything  wrong  at  Woodburn  ?  " 

"  No,  sah.  Dey  is  all  right  dah ;  but,  oh,  I  wants 
Billy." 

"  Who  is  Billy ;  your  brother  ?  " 

Caleb  shook  his  head. 

"  No,  he  ain't  'zackly  my  brudder  ;  he 's  a  don- 
key." 

Ashely  laughed. 

'*  Some  relative,  I  suppose.  Well,  what  about 
your  donkey  ?     Where  is  he  ?  " 

Caleb  drew  a  long  breath. 

"  Dat  's  what  I  wants  ter  know.  One  ob  yo* 
sojer  men  tooked  him  'way  fromed  me,  an'  I  ain't 
seed  him  since.  Please  ter  git  him  fur  me,  Mar's 
Ashely,  'kasen  he 's  all  de  comfut  I 's  got  sence 
Mar's  Jack  went  'way  ter  be  a  sojer." 

Ashely  looked  up,  after  a  pause. 


CALEB,   THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  221 

"  So  your  master  is  in  the  army  ?  Who  are  left 
at  Woodburn  ?  " 

"  Oh,  all  ob  us — same  as  eber.  Miss  Alice,  Miss 
Katie  and  de  servants." 

"  Katie — Miss  Lee — is  she  at  Woodburn,  now?  " 

Caleb  nodded. 

"  Oh,  yes,  sah  ;  course  she  stays  dah,  'kase  her 
fader  's  dead,  an'  she  hain't  got  no  place  else  ter  go, 
I  reckon.  We  couldn't  get  'long  'thouten  Miss 
Katie." 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it,"  said  Ashely,  in  a  low  tone, 
speaking  as  if  to  himself. 

"  But  Billy,"  put  in  Caleb,  coming  back  to  the 
subject  which  was  uppermost  in  his  thoughts,  "  you 
tole  me  you  'd  help  me  fin'  Billy ;  won't  yer,  please, 
Mar's  Ashely  ?  " 

Ashely  stood  looking  down  upon  the  ground  in 
an  absent,  pre-occupied  way.  Katie  was  still  at 
Woodburn  ;  then  all  must  be  "  well  "  between  her- 
self and  Templeton. 

**  Won't  yer,  please,  Mar's  Ashely  ?  " 

Ashely  raised  his  head. 

"  What  did  you  say,  Caleb  ?  " 

"  I  wants  Billy." 

'«  Oh,  yes,"  said  Ashely,  laughing  ;  "  well,  come 


222  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

with  me,  and  I  will  see  if  I  can  not  restore  the  be- 
loved Billy  to  your  arms." 

The  story  spread  throughout  the  camp,  and  soon, 
thanks  to  Ashely,  Caleb  was  happy  in  the  possession 
of  Billy  once  more. 

"  You  'members  what  Billy  dis  is,  Mar's  Ashely?" 
he  said,  standing  with  his  arms  clasped  around  the 
donkey's  neck.    "  Miss  Tessy  gib  dis  donkey  ter  us." 

Ashely  scrutinized  Billy  closely,  for  a  few  mo- 
ments. 

"  Well,  I  believe  I  do  recognize  that  benign 
countenance.  How  did  Miss  Tessy  ever  come  to 
part  with  so  valuable  an  article  ?  " 

"  Oh,  she  gotten  married  to  dat  man  wid  dat  so 
awfully  great  big  nose  on  his  face." 

"Old  Peter  Brown  and  Miss  Tessy.  Will  won- 
ders never  cease  ?"  And  Ashely  laughed  immoder- 
ately. 

"  Well,  I  mus'  be  goin'  home,  kasen  mammy  'ill 
be  wonderin'  whar  I  is,"  said  Caleb,  at  last. 

"  Mar's  Ashely,"  he  added,  turning  around  as  he 
was  about  to  mount  the  well  beloved,  and  speaking 
hesitatingly,  "  I  is  so  berry  much  obliged,  an'  I'se 
awful  sorry  I  done  hitted  you  onct,  an'  I  likes  you 
berry  much,  mos'  as  well's  Mar's  Jack.  I  clar  foah 
gracious  I  do." 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  223 

Ashely  smiled. 

"  Even  if  I  do  wear  a  blue  coat,  and  he  wears  a 
gray ;  never  mind  the  past,  Caleb.  We  are  friends 
now.     Are  we  not  ?  " 

Caleb  nodded  his  head  vigorously. 

"  'Deed  we  is,  an'  I  likes  you  berry,  awfully 
much,  too,"  and  so  saying,  he  mounted  Billy  and 
rode  away  with  a  much  lighter  heart  than  he  had 
brought  into  camp. 

He  found  Katie  waiting  for  him  on  his  return. 

"  Come,  Caleb,  I  want  you  to  drive  over  to  Belle- 
vue  with  me.  I  am  going  to  bring  Jessie  Fairfax 
back  to  Woodburn,"  and  Caleb,  after  disposing  of 
Billy,  jumped  into  the  buggy  beside  her. 

"  I  dunno's  we  ought  to  go  up  dah,  Miss 
Katie,"  he  said,  as  they  were  riding  along. 

"Why,  child?" 

"'Kase  some  sojer  mans  might  take  de  horse  an' 
buggy  'way  from  us,"  remembering  the  episode 
with  Billy. 

"  Perhaps  it  is  rather  rash  in  me  to  drive  about 
so  much  alone,"  said  Katie,  reflectively,  "but  I  do 
want  to  see  Jessie  so  much." 

"  A  sojer  man  went  an'  took  Billy  'way  fromed 
me.  But  some  one  getted  him  back  agin,  an'  some 
one  you  knowed  too,  Miss  Katie." 


224  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie  looked  up  wonderingly. 
"  Some  one  I  know  ?  " 
"  Yes'm." 

"Who  is  it?" 

"  Dat  man  w'at  usen  ter  paint  pictures,  Mar's 
Ashely,"  and  Caleb  gave  a  sidelong  glance  to  see 
how  his  communication  would  be  received. 

The  pale  face  grew  suddenly  crimson.  But  she 
said,  very  quietly:  "  Tell  me  the  story,  won't  you, 
Caleb?"  And  he  forthwith  began  to  relate  his 
grievances  at  full  length,  dwelling  upon  Ashely 's 
kindness  to  him. 

"  He's  a  berry  nice  man  too,  an'  I'se  awfully 
sorry  I  done  liitted  him  onct,  so  I  is."  Here  he 
gave  another  sidelong  glance  at  Katie. 

"  It  is  a  lovely  day  to  drive,  isn't  it,  Caleb  ?  " 
Katie  seemed  anxious  to  change  the  subject. 

"  O,  berry  nice.  Mar's  Jack  don't  like  Mar's 
Ashely  berry  much,  does  lie  ?  " 

"  Here  comes  a  soldier  on  horseback,  Caleb.  I 
wonder  who  it  can  be,"  again  anxious  to  change  the 
subject;  but  fate  was  against  her.. 

"I  clar  foah  gracious,  ef  it  ain't  Mar's  Ashely," 
exclaimed  Caleb,  eagerly,  while  Katie  was  guilty  of 
her  old  habit  of  blushing  crimson,  as  she  recognized 
the  slight,  well-built  figure  and  handsome  face. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  225 

He  merely  lifted  his  hat  in  passing,  but  suddenly 
reined  in  his  horse  and  came  up  by  the  side  of  the 
buggy. 

"  Pardon  me,  Miss  Lee,  but  I  do  not  think  it  at 
all  safe  for  you  to  ride  with  no  one  but  this  little 
fellow  as  an  escort.  I  hope  I  do  not  intrude  myself 
upon  you." 

"  Certainly  not,"  striving  to  appear  self-possessed. 
"  Perhaps  I  should  not  have  ventured  out,  but  I  was 
very  anxious  to  go  to  Bellevue." 

"  May  I  act  as  your  escort,  Miss  Lee  ?  I  am 
sorry,  for  your  sake,  but  I  must  repeat  that  I  do  not 
consider  it  at  all  safe  for  you  to  go  alone." 

"  Certainly.  Thank  you.  You  are  very  kind," 
she  answered,  quietly,  and  he  rode  along  by  the 
buggy,  talking  of  the  one  and  only  topic  discussed  at 
that  time,  viz :  the  "  War,"  until  they  reached 
Bellevue.  Then,  declining  Katie's  invitation  to  call 
there,  he  rode  away. 

Jessie  Fairfax's  delight  knew  no  bounds. 

"  O,  you  dear  girl !  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you," 
drawing  Katie  down  on  the  sofa  beside  her.  "  I 
shall  be  delighted  to  come  over  to  Woodburn. 

"  You  don't  know  how  lonely  I  have  been,"  she 
continued,  lowering  her  voice.  "  You  know,  don't 
you,  Katie,"  and  the  bright  eyes  filled  with  tears. 


22(3  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie  glanced  down  at  Jessie's  black  dress. 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Templeton  told  us  in  his  letter,"  she 
said,  gently.     "  Poor  Wilton  !  " 

"It  was  so  sudden,  Katie,"  continued  Jessie,  in 
low,  broken  tones.  "  We  received  a  letter  written 
in  his  old  joking  way,  giving  us  a  laughable  account 
of  camp  life,  so  bright  and  so  like  himself.  A  few 
days  after  came  a  letter  from  one  of  his  comrades 
telling  us  that  he  was  dead.  O,  Katie  !  It  was 
so  dreadful,  and  I  loved  him  so  dearly,"  and  Jessie 
broke  down  completely. 

A  soft,  white  arm  stole  round  her  neck. 

"  I  know  how  hard  it  was,  Jessie,  dear,  for —  " 
and  Katie's  lips  quivered.  "  You  know  I  am  all 
alone  in  the  world  now." 

Jessie  drew  the  brown  head  down  upon  her 
bosom,  and  they  sat  very  quietly  talking  together  for 
a  long  time,  each  finding  comfort  in  sympathizing 
with  the  sorrow  of  the  other. 

"  There,  I  didn't  mean  to  make  your  visit  a  sad 
one,  Katie,  dear,"  said  Jessie  at  last.  "  Come  up- 
stairs while  I  pack  a  few  things  in  the  satchel." 

It  was  when  Jessie  began  to  dress  that  Katie 
first  noticed  a  tiny  gold  locket  on  a  slender  chain 
about  her  neck. 

"Whose  picture  do  3rou  keep  so  secluded?  "  she 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  227 

asked,  roguishly,  catching  hold  of  the  locket ;  but  the 
dark  face  colored  so  painfully  that  she  felt  sorry 
that  she  had  spoken  of  it. 

"  No,  no !  Don't  open  it  please,"  said  Jessie, 
hurriedly,  seizing  hold  of  the  locket,  which  came 
unclasped  and  a  little  picture  fell  to  tliQ  ground. 
Jessie  snatched  it  up  quickly,  but  not  before  Katie 
had  recognized  the  face — Ashely's. 

Could  it  be  that  Jessie  loved  him  ?  Then  all  her 
foolish  jealousy  had  been  wholly  unfounded.  She 
might  have  known  that  Jessie  regarded  Mar's  Jack 
almost  in  the  light  of  a  brother.  Yes,  she  had  been 
very  foolish.  But  did  Jessie  love  Ashely?  She  looked 
at  the  tall,  graceful  girl,  and  wondered  why  Ashely 
had  loved  her  own  wayward  little  self.  What  could 
be  done? 

And  the  brown  head  set  about  devising  a  scheme. 
She  would  invite  Ashely  to  Woodburn,  and  manage 
to  leave  him  with  Jessie  as  much  as  possible.  Yes, 
Ashely  must  fall  in  love  with  Jessie.  Some  good 
must  come  from  her  own  wrong  doing.  And  with 
her  head  full  of  bright  conspiracies  she  followed 
unsuspecting  Jessie  down  stairs  and,  went  to  find 
Caleb,  who  (after  much  searching)  was  discovered 
in  the  henhouse,  into  mischief  as  usual.  He  had 
not  improved  in  these  years. 


228  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

"O,  my  soul's  Joy  ! 
If  after  every  tempest  come  such  calms, 
May  the  winds  blow  till  they  have  wakened  death!" 

'\T  AT  IE  feared  that  her  'scheme  would  prove 
'-*  '^:  futile,  for,  although,  after  the  first  invitation, 
Ashely  called  at  Woodburn  several  times,  he  seemed 
to  make  no  headway  as  far  as  Jessie  was  concerned. 
Katie  herself  avoided  him  as  much  as  possible,  how- 
ever, until  one  day,  on  meeting  her  in  the  hall,  he 
laid  his  hand  upon  her  arm  and  said  in  a  low  tone : 

"  Why  do  3'ou  always  seek  to  avoid  me,  Katie  ?" 

She  blushed  consciously,  but  made  no  reply. 

"  I  should  not  have  annoyed  you  with  my  presence 
again,  Katie,  but  }Tou  seemed  so  urgent  that  I  should 
call.     Will  you  not  at  least  regard  me  as  a  friend  ?  '■* 

She  reached  out  her  hand.  "  It  is  very  good  of 
you  to  even  care  for  my  friendship,"  she  said,  hum- 
bly ;  "  I  have  deeply  repented  my  own  folly.  Can 
you  forgive  me,  Mr.  Ashely?" 

He  caught  both  her  hands  in  his. 

"  Katie — if  I  thought —  Were  you  mistaken 
after  all?" 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  229 

"  No,  No  ! "  she  cried,  drawing  from  him  quickly, 
"  I  do  not  mean  that.  My  answer  is  now  what  it 
was  then,"  she  added  gently,  but  firmly.  "  I  only 
ask  to  be  forgiven  for  my  deceit ;  for  my  utter  un- 
worthiness.  I  respect  and  admire  you,  Mr.  Ashely, 
but  there — let  us  not  draw  back  the  veil  that  covers 
the  past,  for  your  sake  and  for  mine." 

He  was  standing  with  bowed  head. 

"  I  must  not  come  here  again,"  speaking  slowly, 
as  if  to  himself ;  "  it  is  only  opening  the  old  wound 
afresh." 

-•  Yes,  you  must  come, "  she  cried,  quickly, 
thinking  of  Jessie — "  that  is,  Mr.  Ashely,"  coming 
up  to  his  side  and  speaking  in  a  low  tone,  "  do  you 
not  know  that  there  is  another  whom  you  might  love, 
and  who  loves  you?  " 

The  opening  of  the  hall  door  startled  them  both. 

"  O,  I  beg  your  pardon,"  and  Jessie  Fairfax 
retreated  precipitately. 

"  Do  you  want  anything,  Jessie?"  asked  Katie, 
coming  toward  her. 

"  No — that  is,  I  was  looking  for  my  gold  locket, 
I  can't  find  it  any  where." 

"  We  will  help  you  look  for  it.  Come,  Mr.  Ashe- 
ly," and  a  grand  search  was  made,  but  the  locket 
remained  obstinately  out   of  sight,  until,  at   last, 


230  CALEB.    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Ashely  was  compelled  to  take  his  departure  without 
having  aided  Miss  Fairfax  in  the  least. 

He  puzzled  much  over  Katie's  question,  as  he 
walked  slowly  down  the  avenue. 

"  Another  whom  he  might  love,  and  who  loved 
him  ;"  what  did  she  mean  ? 

"  No,  there  was  none  other  but  Katie's  bright 
little  self  who  could  creep  into  his  heart  and  take 
possession  there.  He  had  thought  the  old  wound 
healed,  but  it  bled  afresh  on  seeing  her  again. 

"  Another  ?"     No,  that  could  never  be. 

Just  then  his  eyes  caught  sight  of  something 
bright  shining  on  the  ground.  What  could  it  be  ? 
A  little  gold  locket.  He  stooped  and  picked  it  up. 
Perhaps  it  was  Katie's.  His  thoughts  always  reverted 
first  to  her.  Then  he  suddenly  remembered  Jessie's 
worry  over  her  lost  locket.  How  stupid  of  him  !  of 
course  it  belonged  to  Miss  Fairfax.  He  would  carry 
it  back  to  her.  What  a  pretty  little  locket  it  was  ? 
blue  enameled.  He  wondered  whose  picture  was 
inside.  Perhaps  Templeton's.  He  always  thought 
that  she  had  a  weakness  for  that  fellow,  and  he  un- 
clasped the  locket. 

Had  the  skies  fallen? 

He  stood  staring  at  his  own  handsome  face  in 
blank  dismay.     What  did  it  mean  ?     His  picture — 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  231 

where  did  she  get  it  ?  What  did  she  want  with  it? 
Then  suddenly  Katie's  words  came  to  him — "  Per- 
haps there  is  another  who  loves  you." 

"Did  she  mean  Jessie  Fairfax?"  Yes,  that 
was  the  only  solution  to  her  mysterious  words. 

Well !  A  man  was  never  too  old  to  learn,  that 
was  certain.  And  a  great  revelation  had  come  to 
him  this  afternoon.  Not  an  altogether  disagreeable 
one,  either,  for  the  knowledge  that  he  was  loved  by 
a  young  and  handsome  girl,  was  not  altogether  un- 
pleasant.    But,  what  should  he  do  with  the  locket  ? 

Return  it  ?  No — that  would  be  very  mortifying 
to  her.  So  slipping  it  into  his  pocket,  he  turned 
from  Woodburn  musing  deeply. 

It  was  one  evening  in  the  latter  part  of  October, 
that  Ashely  found  himself  again  at  Woodburn. 

Jessie  Fairfax  was  singing,  and  as  he  looked  at 
the  graceful  figure,  and  pretty,  shapely  head,  he 
felt  a  new  interest  awakened  within  him. 

He  stood  leaning  on  the  piano  turning  the  music 
leaves,  and  he  saw  the  rich  flush  come  into  her 
cheek,  as  their  eyes  met,  and  her's  fell  before  his 
gaze. 

"Please  sing  this,  Miss  Jessie.  It  is  an  old 
favorite  of  mine." 

She  rose  quickly  from  the  stool. 


232  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  Excuse  me,  I  am  tired  now,"  she  said,  walking 
over  to  the  window. 

Ashely  was  surprised.  Perhaps  he  had  been 
mistaken,  after  all.  She  was  always  reserved  with 
him. 

He  was  becoming  interested. 

"  Perhaps  you  will  take  a  walk  with  me,  Miss 
Jessie  ?  "  and  he  came  and  stood  by  her  side. 

The  beautiful,  dark  eyes  brightened,  but  again 
the  stubborn  heart  impelled  her  to  utterance. 

"  I  would  rather  not,  thank  you.  The  evenings 
are  so  chilly." 

He  felt  slightly  piqued,  and  yet  somewhat 
amused. 

"  I  think  I  have  your  secret  now,  my  lady,"  he 
thought  exultantly,  "  I  will  find  out  if  I  am  right." 

"  Won't  you  go  with  me,  Jessie  ?"  looking  down 
into  her  eyes. 

Again  the  rich  flush  in  her  cheek.  But  she  gave 
a  little  toss  of  her  head,  as  if  to  recover  from  her 
embarrassment. 

"  O,  I  suppose  so,  if  you  wish,"  she  said  care- 
lessly, avoiding  his  gaze.  "I  will  run  and  get  a 
shawl,"  and  she  hurriedly  left  the  room. 

Ashely  drew  back  the  heavy  red  curtains,  and 
stood  looking  out  upon  the  lawn.     He  saw  not  the 


CALEB,    TUB    IRREPRESSIBLE.  233 

beauty  of  the  October  afternoon  —  his  thoughts 
were  busy  with  himself.     Was  he  fickle  ? 

No — stability  was  a  virtue,  if  so  it  may  be  called, 
upon  which  he  had  prided  himself. 

And  yet  he  felt  a  deep  interest  in  Jessie  Fairfax. 
It  must  be  only  a  passing  interest,  because  true  love 
comes  but  once  in  a  life  time,  and  he  had  given  that 
true  love  to  Katie.  He  had  declared  to  himself, 
when  Katie  had  wronged  him,  that  it  was  not  in 
woman  to  be  true — changeable  as  the  wind  that 
blows!  And  yet  he  had  felt  his  heart  warm  towards 
Katie,  on  seeing  her  again,  in  her  sweet  womanli- 
ness. And,  here  was  this  new  interest  in  Jessie 
Fairfax.  Well !  He  did  not  understand  himself, 
that  was  certain,  and  turning  from  the  window,  he 
saw  Jessie  Fairfax  standing  in  the  doorway. 

How  pretty  she  looked  in  her  little  mourning 
bonnet,  with  the  long  crape  veil,  and  the  black  wrap 
that  so  well  became  the  graceful  figure. 

Truly,  she  was  a  girl  to  be  admired  as  well  as 
loved. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  for  keeping  you  waiting 
such  a  length  of  time,"  she  said  apologetically,  with 
a  bright  smile. 

"  I  am  fully  repaid  now  Miss  Jessie,  for  the  mo- 


234  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

raents  spent  without  you,"  and  with  a  bow  he  offer- 
ed her  his  arm. 

Katie  peeping  out  of  the  window,  shortly  after- 
wards, saw  thern  walking  slowly,  apparently  in  close 
conversation. 

She  rejoiced  for  Jessie's  sake  and  yet,  woman- 
like, she  felt  slightly  piqued  at  Ashely. 

But  a  short  time  ago  he  had  shown  by  his  every 
look,  that  he  still  cared  for  her,  and  here  he  was  all 
absorbed  in  Jessie.     Well, 
'// 


0 


"Men  were  deceivers  ever, 

One  foot  in  sea  and  one  on  shore, 
To  one  thing  constant  never."      i 

Not  one  of  them  could  be  trusted.  Except,  per- 
haps— how  her  heart  went  out  after  Mar's  Jack. 
How  shamefully  she  had  treated  him,  and  he  was 
so  good,  so  noble  and  so  true.  She  had  broken  his 
heart,  and  had  driven  him  from  his  home.  If  she 
could  only  go  back  and  live  over  those  days  :  "  If  " 
is  such  a  little  word,  but  it  means  so  much. 

Haw  dearly  had  she  paid  for  her  folly  !  She 
glanced  at  her  pale  face  in  the  mirror.  Mar's  Jack 
would  not  fall  in  love  with  her  again.  She  had  lost 
all  of  her  old  beauty.  Was  this  the  same  bright 
girl  who  had  been  so  happy  in  those  days  that 
seemed  so  long — so  very  long  ago? 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  235 

She  remembered  their  ride  one  night,  and  how 
she  had  told  Mar's  Jack  that  she  wondered  why  she 
was  so  happy,  when  there  was  so  mach  misery  in  the 
world. 

Now,  trouble  had  come  into  her  life,  but  she  had 
brought  it  all  upon  herself.  She  could  bear  it  better, 
she  thought,  if  it  had  not  been  occasioned  by  her 
own  folly. 

We  always  think  that  we  can  bear  just  what 
doesn't  fall  to  our  lot. 

Perhaps  the  severer  the  school  in  which  we 
learn,  the  stronger  and  truer  will  we  be. 

Katie  rested  her  chin  upon  her  hands,  and  sur- 
veyed herself  sorrowfully. 

"  O  Katie  Lee  !  I  never,  never  thought  you  could 
be  so  unhappy,"  she  said  to  herself,  while  two  big- 
tears  rolled  down  her  cheeks.  "  Is  there  no  more 
sunshine  for  you?  There,  I  must  not  be  so  silly," 
she  added,  after  a  pause,  wiping  away  her  tears.  "  I 
think  I  will  take  a  walk  ;  perhaps  that  will  brighten 
my  spirits  a  little,"  and  she  went  down  stairs  to  find 
Caleb. 

The  little  fellow  was  very  mysterious  this  after- 
noon. He  smiled  frequently  to  himself,  and  seemed 
very  anxious  to  lead  Katie  in  the  direction  of  the 
old  church. 


236  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Katie  could  not  understand  it. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  child  ?  " 

"  Oh,  nuffin',  Miss  Katie.  Don'  you  wish  you 
could  see  Mar's  Jack  ?  " 

See  Mar's  Jack  ?  After  three  long,  dreary  years, 
oh,  what  would  she  not  give  to  see  him  ? 

tv  Indeed,  indeed,  I  do,  Caleb !  " 

"You  wasn't  bery  good  ter  him  onct." 

Caleb  had  not  quite  forgiven  Katie  yet. 

She  shook  her  head  mournfully. 

Proud,  wilful  Katie  was  growing  very  humble. 

"  No,  child ;  I  wronged  him  deeply,"  she  said,  in 
a  low  tone. 

Caleb  came  nearer,  and  looked  up  into  her  face. 

"  You's  sorry  now,  ain't  yer  ?  " 

"  I  can  not  tell  how  sorry,  Caleb." 

He  seemed  satisfied,  and  trotted  along  beside 
Katie,  with  a  brighter  face  than  he  had  worn  for  a 
long  time.  When  they  reached  the  old  building, 
he  did  not  seem  disposed  to  linger  in  the  graveyard, 
as  Katie  was  always  fond  of  doing,  but  hurried  her 
into  the  church. 

"  Miss  Katie,  don'  you  wish  awfully  much  dat 
you  could  see  Mar's  Jack  ?  "  asked  Caleb  again,  as 
he  seated  himself  on  the  pulpit  steps  and  began  to 
swing  his  feet  back  and  forth.     "  Wouldn't  it  be 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  237 

nice  ter  see  him  jest  right  now  ?  "  and  he  looked 
into  her  face,  with  eyes  brimming  over  with  some 
weighty  secret. 

Oh,  why  did  he  probe  the  old  wound? 

"  I  would  like  very,  very  much  to  see  him, 
Caleb!" 

"  An'  you  lubs  him  same  as  eber  ?  " 

Katie  stood  leaning  against  the  pulpit,  and  the 
pretty  head  was  bowed. 

"  Love  him  ?  I  love  him  a  thousand  times  more 
than  before.  Oh,  how  I  have  repented  my  own 
wrong  doing  ! "  she  said  plaintively,  speaking  as  if 
to  herself.  "If  he  were  only,  only  here,  to  say  that 
he  forgave  me,  I  would  be  happy.  O  Mar's  Jack  ! 
I  am  so,  so  wretched  without  you ! "  and  she  buried 
her  face  in  her  hands. 

Was  that  a  step  behind  her?  She  turned  quick- 
ly, and  the  next  moment  was  clasped  in  two  loving 
arms,  and  a  pale,  worn,  but  dearly-loved  face  bent 
over  her. 

"  My  own  little  darling  1 "  Jack  cried,  *'  mine, 
mine  forever,  now." 

The  shock  was  too  great  for  her,  and  she  lay 
motionless  in  his  arms. 

"  O  Caleb  !  I  have  killed  her !  Rim  quickly  — 
some  water!  "  but  the  white  lids  slowly  opened  and 


238  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

the  blue  eyes  stared  vacantly  at  first ;  then  growing 
brighter  and  brighter  until  a  perfect  peace  rested  in 
their  depths. 

"  Mar's  Jack,  do  you  really  love  me  ?  "  she  whis- 
pered at  last. 

"  Love  you,  my  life  ?  "  and  he  clasped  her  to  his 
breast. 

k'  After — after  all  I  have  done  ?  " 

He  laid  his  finger  upon  her  lips. 

"  Hush!  not  one  word  of  the  past.  We  live  in 
the  present,  my  darling,"  and  he  drew  her  down  on 
a  seat  beside  him. 

She  nestled  closely  at  his  side.  The  sunshine 
was  coming  back  into  her  life. 

"  O  my  dear  Mar's  Jack,  I  have  been  so  unhappy 
without  you  !  and  I  am  so,  so  happy  now !" 

He  smiled  tenderly  down  into  the  blue  eyes. 

"  I  too  have  carried  a  very  heavy  heart,  Katie ; 
but  we  will  not  talk  of  the  old  life.  You  are  mine 
now,  and  nothing  but  death  shall  separate  us." 

She  sat  restful  and  happy  a  while,  then  her  wo- 
man's curiosity  got  the  better  of  her. 

"  But  what  are  you  doing  here,  Mar's  Jack  ?" 

"  I  am  an  escaped  prisoner,  child,  and  have  been 
hiding  here  two  days  in  the  hopes  of  seeing  you, 
with  only  Caleb  in  the  secret.    He  gave  me  a  detailed 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  239 

account  of  home  life  and  my  dear  ones.  By-the-by, 
Katie,  you  must  not  even  hint  this  to  mother,  as  it 
would  only  give  her  fresh  cause  for  anxiety.  I  must 
get  away  as  soon  as  possible,  and  you  must  be  very 
careful  about  coming  here,  child." 

"  Some  little  romance  in  our  lives,  after  all,"  she 
said,  smiling,  rather  sadly. 

"  Not  very  romantic,  but  horribly  lonely  and  dis- 
agreeable," answered  Jack,  with  a  shrug  of  his 
shoulders.  "  Spiders  and  mice  are  not  very  enviable 
companions.  Caleb,  however,  is  the  only  ghost  I've 
seen." 

"  I'se  been  a  takin'  keer  of  Mar's  Jack,  sence  I 
foim'  'im.  Heah's  some  crackers  I  done  sabed  fui 
you  from  my  dinner,  Mar's  Jack,"  and  Caleb  forth- 
with proceeded  to  take  them  from  his  shirt  bosom. 

"  Lo !  How  are  the  mighty  fallen!"  laughed 
Jack,  in  something  of  his  old  merry  way. 

Katie  drew  back  in  horror. 

"  You  are  surely  not  going  to  eat  those  crackers, 
Mar's  Jack?" 

"  O,  no !  not  at  all,"  and  Jack  proceed  to  dispose 
of  them  quite  vigorously.  "  A  man  is  not  very 
choice  when  he  has  had  nothing  to  eat  for  several 
days,  Katie." 

She  grew  compassionate  at  once. 


240  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  You  poor  boy !  I  will  bring  you  a  lunch  every 
day.  You  are  getting  thin,  Mar's  Jack,"  she  added, 
pityingly,  touching  the  hollows  in  his  cheeks. 

He  raised  her  face  to  his. 

"You  are  changed,  too,  Katie,  very,  very  much, 
and  yet,  do  you  know,"  with  great  tenderness, 
"  your  face  is  far  lovelier  to  me  now  than  it  was  in 
the  old  days." 

A  pleased  surprise  came  into  her  eyes  so  blue. 

"  Am  I,  Mar's  Jack  ?  I  thought  I  was  growing 
very  ugly.  But  I  don't  care  one  bit,  so  yoa  love 
me." 

He  drew  her  close  to  him  and  they  sat  so  silent 
and  so  happy — so  inexpressibly  happy. 

"  Mar's  Jack,"  whispered  Katie,  after  a  pause, 
remembering  her  talk  with  Cad  Nelson,  "  I  love  you 
so  dearly  now,  that  I  would  even  go  as  a  missionary 
to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  if  you  wanted  to  go." 

Jack  laughed. 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall  ever  make  such  a  request, 
Kit.  But,"  changing  his  tone,  "  you  are  a  soldier's 
love  now,  Katie,  and  I  shall  ask  you  to  be  a  brave 
little  woman,  until  I  come  to  claim  you." 

"  I'll  try,"  she  whispered,  tremulously,  and  again 
she  nestled  close  to  his  side  and  they  sat  very  silent, 
Caleb  meanwhile  wondering  what  happiness  people 


CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  241 

could  find  in  sitting  still  and  gazing  into  each  other's 
faces. 

"  Dis  heah  am  a  funny  worl',"  he  mused ;  "  I 
wonder  ef  all  de  folks  what  lubs  each  udder  alius 
does  dat  a  way.  I'd  jes'  like  ter  see  my  pappy  set 
an' look  into  my  mammy's  face  liken  dat,  onct,"  and 
Caleb  chuckled  over  the  idea.  "  Lawd  !  She'd  turn 
roun'  quicker'n  wink  and  she'd  say,  '  Now  what  am 
you  a  settin'  dah  an'  a  gapin'  in  my  face  fur  ?  you 
ole  idjut  you.'  'Deed  she  would,  but  I  spec's  ebery- 
body  acts  different." 

"  Well,  Katie,  little  girl,"  said  Jack,  at  last,  "  it 
is  growing  late,  and  I  do  not  like  you  to  be  out  after 
dark  in  these  troublous  times.  Be  careful  about 
coming  here  again,  my  darling." 

"  Take  good  care  of  her,  Caleb,"  he  added,  as 
he  kissed  Katie  good-by. 

"  O,  she's  berry  safe  wid  me,"  and  Caleb  walked 
along  at  Katie's  side  with  the  air  of  a  Sir  Knight. 


Q       ii 


242  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

"Hope  on,  hope  ever!  though  to-day  he  dark, 
The  sweet  sunburst  may  smile  on  thee  to-morrow." 

T7r"  ATIE  tripped  about  the  house  with  something 
-*-^-  of  her  old  ga}rety  the  next  morning.  Every 
now  and  then  the  sweet  voice  broke  forth  into  song, 
and  the  merry  laugh  rang  through  the  old  halls. 

"  Why,.  Katie,  you  are  quite  yourself  this  morn- 
ing. What  good  angel  has  wrought  this  effect?" 
asked  Jessie  Fairfax,  coming  into  the  library. 

Katie  was  dusting  the  music  rack. 

"  O,  I  don't  know,"  she  said,  gaily,  flourishing 
her  duster  over  her  head,  "  Only  I  feel  dreadfully, 
alarmingly  happy,"  and  she  seated  herself  at  the 
piano  and  sang, 

"  Life  is  all  sunshine  ; 
No  darkness  is  here." 

"  I  wish  you  would  give  me  the  recipe,"  sighed 
Jessie,  enviously. 

Katie  looked  up  with  surprise. 

"  Are  you  unhappy,  Jessie  ?  " 

The  dark  head  drooped,     r  If  to  love  where  no 


CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE.  243 

love  is  returned,  is  unhappiness,  then  I  am  most 
miserable. ",7 

Two  soft  arms,  those  comforting  arms,  stole  about 
her  neck. 

"  Jessie,  darling,  don't  be  despondent.  Perhaps 
he  loves  you." 

Jessie  shook  her  head.  "  No,  and  it  is  very  gall- 
ing to  me,  but  I  cannot  help  loving  him,  and  fojjne 
to  love  once  is  to  love  forever.  You  will  think  I 
have  no  pride,  Katie,  but  I  must  talk  to  some  one. 
O,  child,  if  my  burden  were  anything  else,  rather 
than  this,  I  could  bear  it,"  and  the  dark  eyes  filled 
with  tears. 

Katie  nestled  closely  at  Jessie's  side.  She  remem- 
bered how  the  same  thought  had  come  to  her. 

"  We  all  have  something  to  bear,  Jessie,  dear. 
Perhaps  your  burden  is  the  best  for  you.  I  cannot 
tell  what  is  right  for  you,  dear,  for  I  am  so  unlovable, 
and  so  selfish,  myself,  but  I  think  if  we  are  patient, 
and  push  on  bravely  to  the  end,  some  light  will 
shine  across  the  pathway,  dark  though  it  may  seem 
now. 

"  There  !  I  am  a  regular  old  grandmother,  am 
I  not,  "  she  added,  laughing  through  the  tears  that 
came  in  sympathy  with  Jessie's. 

Jessie  kissed  her  warmly. 


244  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  No,  my  darling,  you  are  a  regular  little  com- 
forter. But  I  must  go  to  my  sewing  now.  What 
are  you  going  to  do  ?     Come  up  and  read  to  me.  " 

"  I  will,  after  a  while  Jessie.  I  have  an  errand 
to  do,  "  and  a  very  pleasant  errand  it  seemed  to  be, 
for  Katie  looked  very  bright,  as  she  tripped  away 
an  hour  afterw.ird,  with  a  lunch  basket  on  her  arm. 

She  found  Mar's  Jack  in  a  very  hungry  condi- 
tion. 

"  Now  just  eat  and  eat,  "  she  said  gaily,  spread- 
ing out  the  dinner  on  the  pulpit.  "  We  will  mete 
out  something  beside  spiritual  food  from  this  old 
pulpit  to-day. " 

Jack  laughed. 

"  Yes,  for  I  hardly  think  spiritual  food  would 
supply  my  demand  at  present.  Now,  Kit,  I  am  go- 
ing to  '  fall  to,  '  with  a  vengeance.  " 

And  he  did  "fall  to"  with  such  vigor  that  Katie 
wanted  to  know  if  he  intended  to  leave  the  pulpit. 

"  Well "  said  Jack  at  last,  "  I  feel  like  a  new 
man,  Katie.  You  don't  know  how  dreadfully  hun- 
gry and  lonely  I  have  been  for  the  last  two  or  three 
days.  It  does  all  very  well  to  read  about,  but  the 
romance  disappears  in  real  life,  my  dear. 

"  Now  Katie,  "  he  added,  after  a    time,  seating 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  245 

himself  in  one  of  the  pews,  and  drawing  her  down 
by  his  side,  "  Let  us  have  a  long,  long  talk.  " 

Meanwhile  Jessie  Fairfax  sat  with  Mrs.  Temple- 
ton,  talking  and  sewing. 

"  Where  is  Katie  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Templeton,  look- 
ing up  from  the  stocking  she  was  darning. 

"  I  don't  know.  She  said  she  had  an  errand  to 
do, "  answered  Jessie,  holding  her  needle  to  the 
light,  in  order  to  thread  it.  »  She  went  out  about 
an  hour  ago. " 

Mrs.  Templeton  shook  her  head. 

"  It  is  not  safe  for  her  to  run  about  alone,  as  she 
does.  I  must  put  a  stop  to  it  at  once.  There  are 
so  many  of  those  dreadful  soldiers  about.  Why,  I 
do  believe  there  are  some  now.  " 

Raising  her  eyes,  Jessie  saw  several  "  blue  coats" 
coming  down  the  road. 

"  What  can  it  mean  ?     Go  down  and  see,  child." 

Jessie  ran  down  stairs,  but  Caleb  was  there  be- 
fore her. 

"  Dese  heah  sojers  said  dat  somebody  war  hid  in 
dis  hous',  Miss  Jessie." 

Jessie  turned  pale. 

"  Some  one  hidden  in  this  house.  You  are  mis- 
taken." 


246  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  miss,  "  said  the  foremost 
soldier,  lifting  his  cap,  "  but  we  have  orders  to  ex- 
amine the  premises.  " 

"  The  idea  of  any  one  being  hidden  in  this  house. 
Why  we  haven't  seen  any  body  who  would  be  like- 
ly to  hide  here,  for  an  age." 

"  Can't  help  it  miss.     We  have  our  orders.  " 

"O,  very  well,  search  all  you  want  too.  Caleb 
can  show  you  around,  I  won't,"  and  Jessie  went  up 
stairs,  highly  indignant  at  the  bare  supposition  that 
any  one  should  be  concealed  at  Woodburn. 

Caleb  was  delighted,  and  fairly  danced  before 
them. 

"  Come  'long  now,  an'  hunt  roun'.  Heah's  de 
liberry.  No  one's  in  heah.  See — under  de  pianner 
an'  in  de  closet,  an'  in  de  fire  place,"  and  he  made 
them  look  into  every  crevice.  Even  opening  a  large 
match  safe,  and  holding  a  huge  vase  for  their  in- 
spection. 

"  He  would  not  be  in  there  unless  he  had  been 
cremated,"  laughed  the  foremost  soldier,  who  seem- 
ed to  be  a  very  pleasant,  good  natured  sort  of  a 
chap,  "  and  we  don't  care  about  his  ashes.  Come 
on.     He's  not  in  here." 

Down  the  long  hall  went  Caleb,  followed  by 
a    line    of   blue   coats ;    into   the    drawing    room, 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  247 

around  on  the  veranda,  up  into  all  the  bedrooms, 
leading  them  into  all  sorts  of  uncomfortable  places, 
and  letting  them  extricate  themselves  as  best  they 
could.  At  last  they  reached  a  small  door  in  a  dark 
end  of  the  upper  hall. 

Caleb  planted  himself  before  it. 

"  You  can't  go  in  heah,"  he  said,  looking  up  with 
a  determined  air. 

"You  are  as  brave  as  the  three  hundred  Spar- 
tans," laughed  the  good  natured  soldier.  "  How  do 
you  expect  to  keep  us  out?  " 

"  Well — you  kin  go  eberywhar  else  butdis  place. 
I  shan't  let  yer  go  in  heah." 

The  other  soldiers  were  becoming  impatient. 

"  Don't  fool  with  that  imp  any  longer,"  growled 
Caleb's  old  enemy,  with  the  creamy  history. 

"  Billy  ain't  in  heah,"  grinned  Caleb,  maliciously. 

This  raised  the  laugh  against  Caleb's  enemy,  who 
frowned  ominously. 

"  Come  move  off  now,  youngster,"  said  one,  at 
last. 

"  I  can't  let  you  go  in  heah,  honest  I  can't,"  and 
Caleb  looked  very  mysterious. 

Matters  were  becoming  serious. 

"  If  you  don't  move  from  that  door  you  will  have 
the  action  done  for  you.     Understand  ?  " 


248  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Caleb,  with  a  deep  sigh,  moved  away. 

"  Berry  well.  Ef  you  mus'  go  in  dar  I'll  tell 
Miss  Katie  'twan't  my  fault." 

And  he  opened  the  door  very  cautiously. 

The  soldiers  peered  eagerly  into  the  long,  dark 
closet. 

It  was  empty. 

"  Te  hee!"  and  Caleb  darted  away,  laughing 
immoderately  at  his  deception. 

"  Well,  we  are  outwitted  this  time,"  laughed 
the  good-natured  soldier.  "  He's  not  here,  that's 
certain.     Is  there  any  other  hiding  place  near  here  ?  " 

"  There  is  an  old  empty  church  about  a  half  a 
mile  from  here,  I  think,"  said  one. 

"  The  very  place.  We*ll  look  about  the  grounds 
first,"  and  they  started  down  stairs. 

Katie  met  them  in  the  hallway.  Her  face  turned 
pale,  but  she  greeted  them  with  a  smile  and  they 
lifted  their  caps  respectfully. 

"  Caleb,"  she  whispered,  "  what  does  this  mean  ?  " 
And  the  little  fellow  explained  matters. 

"  I  dunno,  Miss  Katie,  but  I  rather  'spect  its 
Mar's  Jack  dey  is  lookin'  arter.  O,  didn't  I  fool 
'em  nice,"  and  he  rolled  over  on  the  floor  in  his  joy. 

The  soldiers  gave  him  some  black  looks,  but  he 
leered  defiantly  and  trotted  away. 


CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  249 

"  That  is  a  true  imp  of  Satan.  Well,  come  on 
and  let's  search  the  grounds  and  then  for  the  old 
church,  boys." 

Katie  turned  deadly  pale. 

The  old  church !  and  Mar's  Jack  was  there. 
They  would  take  him  prisoner.    What  could  she  do  ? 

"Well,  Katie,  are  you  here  at  last?  "  called  Jes- 
sie, looking  over  the  stairway.  "  What  a  time  we've 
had.  Those  stupid  soldiers  thought  that  some  was 
hidden  in  this  house.  Did  you  ever  hear  of  anything 
as  silly?     Do  come — " 

But  Katie  did  not  stop  to  hear  the  rest  of  the 
sentence.  She  rushed  through  the  hall- way  and 
down  the  steps  out  into  the  chill  October  evening. 
O,  if  she  should  be  too  late  !  And  the  thought  lent 
wings  to  the  flying  feet.  On — on  down  the  road, 
the  wind  blowing  the  pretty  hair  all  about  her  face. 
"  She  must  save  Mar's  Jack,"  and  the  feet  flew  faster. 
How  far  away  the  old  church  was  ?  The  distance 
had  never  seemed  so  great  before.  Would  she  ever 
reach  it  ?  Yes,  there  it  was,  and  bursting  open  the 
door,  she  cried, 

"  Quick,  Mar's  Jack !  run,  they  are  coming  after 

you." 

"  Why,  my  darling,  what's  the  matter  ?  "  And  he 
held  the  trembling  form  in  his  arms. 


250  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  O,  Mar's  Jack,  they  are  searching  for  you. 
They  have  just  been  to  the  house  and  they  are 
coming  here." 

"  Mar's  Jack,"  said  a  voice,  and  they  both  started 
at  rinding  Caleb  near  them. 

"  Quick !  yer  hain't  got  no  time  eben  ter  kiss 
Miss  Katie.  De  sojers  is  a  comin.'  Heah's  Billy  fur 
yer  to  ride." 

"O,  ye  powers  that  be,"  ejaculated  his  master, 
laughing,  in  spite  of  himself;  "Billy,  of  all  things; 
there  is  no  possible  danger  of  my  being  overtaken," 
he  added,  ironically. 

Caleb's  face  fell. 

"  Well,  Billy  were  de  only  fing  I  had  ter  gib 
yer,"  he  said,  humbly. 

Jack  patted  Caleb's  head. 

"  Never  mind,  you  did  the  best  you  could.  Billy 
may  redeem  his  character  after  all.  But  I  must  be 
off  now,"  and  kissing  Katie  hurriedly,  he  darted 
through  the  doorway  and  disappeared  from  view. 
While  Katie  and  Caleb,  taking  a  short  cut  through 
the  woods,  reached  Woodburn  without  having  been 
discovered. 


CALEB,   THE   IIUIEPRESSIBLE.  251 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

"  Gather  ye  rosebuds,  while  ye  may, 
Old  Time  is  still  a-flying, 
And  this  same  flower  that  smiles  to-day 
To-morrow  will  be  dying. 

I  "Then  be  not  coy,  but  use  your  time, 

And  while  ye  may,  go  marry: 
\    For  haying  lost  but  once  your  prime, 
^     You  may  forever  tarry." 

"TESSIE  FAIRFAX  sat  in  front  of  the  grate,  with 
V  the  brilliant  dark  eyes  fixed  upon  the  fitful  fire- 
light. Mrs.  Templeton  was  not  feeling  well  and 
Katie  was  waiting  upon  her,  so  Jessie  sat  alone. 

It  was  her  last  afternoon  at  Woodburn  and  her 
heart  was  heavy,  heavier  than  ever  before,  for  she 
had  grown  to  love  Ashely  very  dearly  in  these  last 
few  months,  and  her  love  seemed  hopeless,  utterly 
hopeless.  Why  did  he  not  return  her  love  ?  Ah  ! 
why  ?  the  one  question  we  ask  and  ask  again. 

There  was  Katie,  so  bright  and  so  happy  and  she 
so  miserable. 

Things  were  very  UDequally  divided  in  this  world. 
If  she  could  forget  him.  But  no,  that  was  impossi- 
ble, and  she  sighed  deeply. 

A  step  in  the  hall,  then  the  door  opened  softly. 


252  CALEB,   THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"What,  all  alone  Miss  Jessie?"  and  the  telltale 
color  flamed  into  her  cheek  at  the  voice. 

"  The  wind  is  blowing  a  regular  tornado  out  of 
doors.  Just  listen,"  and  he  stopped  with  his  hand 
upon  the  knob,  listening  to  the  wind  that  sobbed 
and  moaned  like  a  lost  child,  about  the  old  house. 

"  You  look  comfortable  here,  though,"  he  added, 
drawing  an  easy  chair  up  by  the  fire.  "  May  I  keep 
you  company  ?  A  penny  for  your  thoughts,  Miss 
Jessie." 

She  sat  looking  into  the  fire. 

"  They  would  be  worth  nothing  to  you,"  she 
said,  with  a  little,  bitter  laugh. 

"  Perhaps  they  would,  Miss  Jessie  ;  at  least,  give 
me  an  opportunity  to  judge." 

She  raised  the  dark  eyes  to  his  face. 

"  I  was  thinking  that  my  whole  life  had  been  a 
mistake — utterly  worthless  and  useless.'' 

Ashely  smiled. 

"  I  have  heard  of  ugly,  cross  old  fellows  being 
misanthropes,  but  a  beautiful  young  girl  —  that  is 
something  quite  beyond  me.  You  have  lived  such 
a  great  number  of  years,  Miss  Jessie,  that  I  should 
think  you  would  feel  that  your  life  had  been 
wasted,"  and  he  glanced  at  her,  with  an  amused  look. 

She  looked  aunoyed. 


CALEB,    THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  253 

"  Oh,  you  may  laugh,  if  you  wish,  but  I  feel  in 
that  way,  nevertheless.  I  have  nothing  left  to  live 
for." 

"  Your  life,  useless,  worthless,  Miss  Jessie  ?  Non- 
sense !  Let  me  draw  you  a  picture  in  the  firelight," 
he  added,  speaking  in  a  low,  earnest  tone,  and  fast- 
ening his  eyes  upon  the  fire.  "  I  see  a  long,  low 
room,  brightened  with  the  firelight  glow.  There  is 
a  lovely  girl  seated  in  a  large  red  arm-chair.  What  a 
pretty  picture  she  makes,  with  the  bright  light  fall- 
ing on  the  sweet  face  and  the  dark,  earnest  eyes! 
Near  her  sits  an  insignificant-looking  customer,  who 
thinks  himself  very  important,  no  doubt,  but  whose 
eyes,  nevertheless,  will  wander  towards  the  graceful 
figure  in  the  arm-chair.  He  thought  once  that  he 
could  never  love  again ;  but  every  day  he  has 
watched  this  lovely  girl,  and  every  day  she  has  grown 
dearer  and  dearer  to  him.  And  yet,  despite  all  that, 
this  young  girl  says  that  her  life  is  utterly  worthless 
and  useless.  She  has  only  to  turn  to  this  insignifi- 
cant-looking fellow  in  the  arm-chair,  to  know  that 
it  is  worth  all  the  world  to  him.  Jessie  — -"  and  he 
rose  and  came  to  her  chair. 

Could  she  believe  her  own  ears  ? 

The  beautiful  head  drooped  lower  and  lower. 

"  Jessie,"  and  he  lifted  her  towards  him,  "  you 


254  CALEB,    THE    IRREPRESSIBLE. 

are  the  one  girl,  in  all  the  world,  for  me  !  Is  your 
life  worthless  now,  darling?  I  can  not  offer  you 
much,  but  you  can  make  me  very  happy  !  Mine — 
always — Jessie  ?  " 

Slowly  the  dark  eyes  were  raised  to  his  face. 

"Yes,"  she  whispered,  and  he  folded  her  to  his 
breast. 

The  library  door  opened  suddenly. 

"Oh,  for  goodness  sake!"  exclamed  Katie,  in 
astonishment,  beating  a  quick  retreat.  "  Quite 
good  evidence  that  my  plans  have  succeeded,"  she 
said,  exultantly;  "  but  how  silly  they  looked,  when 
I  opened  the  door,"  and  she  laughed,  in  spite  of 
herself.  "  I  suppose  it  is  very  nice  when  it  is  your- 
self;  but  it  does  look  awfully  silly  in  other  people. 
Hush ! "  she  whispered,  as  Caleb  came  up  the  hall. 
"Don't  go  in  there  !  " 

Caleb  became  curious. 

"What's  in  dah?" 

"Hush!"  and  Katie  held  up  a  warning  finger. 
"  Don't  talk  so  loud.  They  will  hear  you,  and 
then  it  might  never  come  off." 

Caleb  put  his  head  upon  one  side,  and  stared  at 
Katie.  Her  troubles  must  have  affected  her  brain. 
Then,  becoming  curious  again : 

"What 'sin  dah?" 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  255 

"Hush!  I  tell  you.  Don't  look  in  for  all  the 
world.  Come  with  me,"  and  Katie  tiptoed  down 
the  hall,  followed  slowly  by  Caleb. 

As  soon  as  she  was  out  of  sight,  however,  he 
trotted  back  and  stood  in  front  of  the  door.  His 
fingers  fairly  itched  to  open  it.  What  was  in  there? 
Would  it  hurt,  if  he  would  take  one  peep — -just  one? 
and  glancing  up  and  down  the  hall  again,  Caleb 
took  hold  of  the  knob  and  turned  it  softly.  Then 
he  peeped  in  cautiously. 

There  sat  Ashely  and  Jessie,  side  by  side,  in 
front  of  the  fire,  her  head  resting  upon  his  shoulder, 
and  he  breathing  soft  nothings  into  her  ear. 

"Tehee!"  and  the  door  slammed  violently. 

Caleb  trotted  away  with  contempt. 

"  Miss  Katie  done  make  an  awful  fuss  ober  dat ! 
Why,  dat 's  a  goin'  on  in  dis  house  all  de  time.  Miss 
Katie  can't  say  nuffiii',  'kase  I  seed  her  act  dat  away 
lots  ob  times  herself.  I  mus'  gitten  me  a  bo  fur 
me.  Say,  mammy,"  coming  to  the  kitchen  where 
Aunt  Dinah  was  washing,  "  can't  you  gitten  me  a 
bo  fur  me  ?  " 

Aunt  Dinah  looked  up  from  the  suds. 

"  Gitten  you  a  what  ?  " 

"  A  bo — a  gal  fur  me  ter  lub,  mammy." 

Aunt  Dinah  put  her  arms  akimbo. 


25G  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  I  kin  gitten  you  a  ledder  strap  ter  licken  de 
skin  offen  you,  ef  you  wants  it." 

And  Caleb,  with  a  grin,  trotted  away.  He  rolled 
around  on  the  bare  ground  for  a  while,  utterly 
regardless  of  the  wind  and  the  cold.  It  was  very 
lonesome  at  Woodburn  now.  He  used  to  have 
Billy  once. 

"  Oh,  Billy  were  such  a  comfut  to  me,"  he 
mused,  "  so  sociable  and  nice." 

Billy's  few  virtues  grew,  and  grew  into  mount- 
ains of  goodness,  now  that  he  was  gone. 

k;  O  Billy,  Billy!  what  wouldn't  I  gib  ter  see 
you  ?"  and  Caleb  heaved  a  deep  sigh. 

Then  he  thought  he  heard  the  sound  of 
horses'  hoofs.  What  was  that  coming  down  the 
road?  Caleb  got  up  and  peeped  through  the  fence 
rails.  May  be  it  was  a  horse.  No  ;  it  looked  like 
a  donkey — and — Caleb  made  no  more  conjectures, 
but  leaping  over  the  fence,  dashed  down  the  road 
at  full  speed,  meeting  the  long  lost  Billy  half  way. 

"O  Billy,  Billy,"  he  cried,  hugging  the  donkey 
affectionately,  "  ef  yer  hain't  come  home  ter  me !  I 
were  lookin'  fur  a  bo,  Billy,  an'  you  's  my  bo,  sho' 
as  you  's  born  !  I  ain't  glad  ter  see  yer,  is  I  ?  Oh, 
no ! "  and  he  bestowed  another  token  of  affection 
upon  the  donkey's  neck. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  257 

Billy  rubbed  his  nose  against  Caleb's  arm,  and 
seemed  equally  delighted. 

"  A  pair  of  'em,"  Mar's  Jack  would  have  said. 

"Yes,  you 's  my  bo,  Billy;  better 'n  dem  silly 
gals  fur  bos,  too.  But  how  did  you  gitten  here  ?  " 
he  asked,  as  though  he  fully  expected  a  reply. 

Billy  brayed. 

Caleb  shook  his  head. 

"I  don'  jes'  know  what  you  says,  but  I  'spect 
it  fs  all  right.  Ain't  you  dirty,  do'  ?  I  'clar  foah 
gracious,  you's  jes'  like  a  pig.  Come  up  ter  de 
stable  an'  git  cleaned,  an'  den  you  shall  hab  sumfin' 
ter  eat." 

If  Billy  could  not  talk,  he  certainly  seemed  to 
understand  when  he  was  spoken  to,  for  he  started 
into  a  brisk  trot  at  the  mention  of  food. 

"  Mammy,"  said  Caleb,  stopping  at  the  kitchen 
door,  "  heah  's  Billy  !  " 

Aunt  Dinah's  face  assumed  a  disgusted  expres- 
sion. 

"De  Lawd  o'  mussy !  am  dat  imp  come  back 
again  ?  I  fought  we  'd  got  rid  ob  him  fur  sho\ 
Tooken  him  right  'way  from  heah  !  Ef  dere  's  any- 
t'ing  I  hates,  it  am  dat  Billy  ! " 

Caleb  grinned  maliciously. 

"It's  his  hin'  legs  you  hates,  mammy,  not  him." 
R  ii* 


258  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  You  git  'way  from  heah  wid  yer  sass,  or  dat 
ledder  strap  's  a  gwine  ter  fly  roun'  pretty  briskly  ! 
Heah  me?'* 

And  Caleb,  taking  the  very  broad  hint,  walked 
away  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  the  well-beloved. 


CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE.  258 


/"« 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


EXIT  CALEB. 


Ota,  say  not  woman 's  false  as  fair, 

That  like  the  bee  she  ranges, 
Still  seeking  flowers  more  sweet  and  rare, 

As  fickle  fancy  changes ! 
Ah,  no !  the  love  that  first  can  warm, 

Will  leave  her  bosom  never; 
No  second  passion  e'er  can  charm; 

She  loves,  and  loves  forever." 


■J 


/"""i  REAT  was  the  excitement  at  Woodburn.  Mar's 
^-^  Jack  was  coming  home.  He  had  remained  in 
Richmond  several  months  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
but  now  he  was  coming  back  to  them  again  after  his 
long  years  of  absence. 

The  inmates  of  Woodburn  (which,  by  the  way, 
was  divested  of  much  of  its  former  grandeur  —  all 
the  trees  bordering  the  avenue  having  been  cut 
down)  were  fewer  than  of  old.  The  few  slaves, 
owned  by  Mrs.  Templeton,  had  gone  away.  Aunt 
Dinah  and  Caleb,  of  course,  remained.  Indeed, 
nothing  could  have  driven  them  from  the  old  place. 

Again  Caleb  was  perched  upon  the  gate-post,  as 
on  that  memorable  day  when  he  had  watched  for 
Katie. 


260  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

"  I  shall  not  go  to  sleep  for  Mar's  Jack's  benefit, 
though,"  laughed  Katie  merrily,  remembering  Jack's 
"  nap  "  on  that  summer  day,  so  long  ago. 

How  happy  she  was !  and  how  pretty  she  looked 
in  the  soft  black  dress,  that  made  her  look  "  so  fair, 
so  young." 

She  thought  of  all  her  life  at  Woodburn  —  the 
sunshine  and  the  shadow.  Perhaps  much  trouble 
and  sorrow  had  overshadowed  her  young  life  ;  and 
yet,  as  she  stood  upon  the  veranda  looking  down  the 
road,  and  shading  the  blue  eyes  with  her  hand,  she 
felt  very,  very  happy.  When  Mar's  Jack  came,  her 
cup  of  happiness  would  be  full — full  to  overflowing. 

"Dah  comes  de  kerridge,  Miss  Katie,"  called 
Caleb,  eagerly,  springing  from  the  gate-post,  and 
trotting  down  the  road. 

"  Here  comes  the  carriage,  Mrs.  Templeton," 
echoed  Katie,  calling  in  at  the  window  as  she 
watched  Caleb  run  down  the  road  and  get  into  the 
carriage.  She  hurried  to  the  gateway !  Oh,  why 
was  Pompey  so  slow? 

At  last,  the  carriage  stopped,  and  Caleb  jumped 
out ;  then  came  Mar  s  Jack.  Why  did  Katie's 
heart  stand  still  ? 

It  was  the  same  Mar's  Jack — thinner,  paler  per- 
haps, and  yet,  one  sleeve  hung  empty  at  his  side. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  261 

The  shock  was  great.  Mrs.  Templeton  had 
withheld  the  truth  from  her.  She  recovered  herself 
instantly.  How  her  heart  yearned  towards  him  ! 
and  she  ran  forward  with  outstretched  arms. 

"  Katie,  little  girl,"  he  said,  gently  stooping  to 
kiss  the  upturned  face ;  and  yet,  there  was  some- 
thing of  pain  in  his  voice. 

"  Oh,  I  am  so,  so  glad  to  see  you  !  "  walking  at 
his  side,  and  talking  eagerly.  "  I  have  been  so 
lonely  without  you !  " 

"  Have  you,  child  ?  "  speaking  in  the  same  gen- 
tle tone.     "  I,  too,  have  missed  you  very  much." 

Then  he  became  silent,  and  walked  to  the  house 
with  a  grave,  pre-occupied  manner. 

Mrs.  Templeton's  eyes  filled  with  tears  as  he 
bent  over  her,  and  she  kissed  him — oh,  so  tenderly  ! 
He  was  doubly  dear  to  her  now. 

It  was  a  very  quiet  tea  table ;  but  in  the  evening 
Katie  exerted  herself  to  the  utmost.  She  sang  the 
old  Scotch  ballads  Jack  loved  so  well,  and  talked  of 
the  old  merry  days,  and  of  their  life  during  Jack's 
absence.  All  the  while  Mar's  Jack  sat  looking 
straight  before  him,  with  the  same  grave,  pre-occu- 
pied air. 

"  By  the  by,  Mar's  Jack,"  said  Katie,  gayly, 
"  How  on  earth  did  Billy  get  back  ?  " 


262  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

Jack  roused  himself. 

"Is  Billy  here  ?  "  he  asked,  with  an  attempt  at 
a  smile.  "  Poor  little  fellow,  he  had  a  hard  time  of 
it.  I  lost  him  one  day  ;  but  how  he  got  back  here, 
he  will  have  to  tell  you.     I  can  not." 

Katie  laughed. 

"  Well,  he  did  come  back  to  us.  Could  not  stay 
away  from  Caleb,  I  suppose.  Indeed,  I  always 
thought  there  was  an  affinity  between  those  two. 
But  changing  the  subject,  Mar's  Jack,  did  you 
know  that  Mr.  Ashely  and  Jessie  Fairfax  are  mar- 
ried ?  " 

Jack  looked  surprised. 

"  Indeed  !     How  did  that  happen  ?  " 

Katie  clapped  her  hands. 

"  O,  that's  a  secret!  I  arranged  it  all,  and  it 
was  such  fun  to  see  them  walk  right  into  the  trap. 

u  Yes,  Jessie  has  followed  in  the  footsteps  of 
her  forefathers  or  foremothers,  as  Wilton  used  to 
say.     Poor  Wilton !  "  she  added  gently. 

Jack  sighed  deeply. 

"  Poor  Wilton  ?  No  —  perhaps  not.  Death  is 
preferable  to  some  things,"  and  he  relapsed  into 
silence  again. 

Katie  stole  a  glance  at  him  from  under  the  long 
lashes. 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  263 

How  thin  and  pale  he  looked — handsome  still — 
but  yet  very  changed.  There  was  a  sadness  about 
the  well  shaped  mouth,  and  there  were  heavy  cir- 
cles, under  the  grave  troubled  eyes.  So  changed  ! 
And  yet  Katie's  heart  yearned  towards  him  as 
never  before. 

"  Do  not  sit  up  too  late,  Jack,  dear,"  said  Mrs. 
Templeton,  rising  and  breaking  the  silence.  "  Good 
night,"  and  she  kissed  him  tenderly. 

"  Can't  I  corned  in  a  little  while,  ef  I  'haves?" 
pleaded  a  voice  as  Mrs.  Templeton  opened  the  door. 

*'  No — Jack's  tired.     Run  away,  now." 

But  Caleb  grew  importunate. 

"  I  ain't  seed  him  fur  eber  so  long.  Can't  I 
come  in  jes'  a  little  while.     I'll  be  jes'  awful  good." 

"  Yes,  let  him  come  a  little  while,  mother. 

"  Here's  a  stool  at  my  feet,  Caleb,"  he  added, 
after  his  mother  had  gone,  and  Caleb  seated  him- 
self delightedly. 

"  Dis  jes'  seems  liken  ole  times,  don'  it  Miss 
Katie?" 

Katie  smiled. 

"  Yes,  indeed  it  does,  child." 

"  An'  efery  fings  a  gwine  ter  be  nice  after  dis 
ain't  it?" 

"  I  hope  so,  Caleb." 


264  CALEB,   THE  IRREPRESSIBLE. 

k' An'  you  ain't  a  gwine  ter  get  mad  wid  Mar's 
Jack  no  mo'  is  yer?  " 

"  Indeed,  I  hope  not,"  she  answered  in  a  low 
tone,  stealing  another  glance  at  Mar's  Jack. 

He  had  been  sitting  very  quiet. 

"  Caleb,"  he  said  at  last,  speaking  in  a  low  bit- 
ter tone,  "  have  you  any  plans  for  the  future  or  are 
you  '  all  at  sea '  like  the  rest  of  us  penniless  beg- 
gars ?  " 

Caleb  looked  up  curiously. 

"  What's  dat  ?  " 

"  A  penniless  beggar  ?  O,  a  man  who  hasn't  a 
cent  in  the  world,  child." 

Caleb  grinned. 

"Lawd!  den  I  mus'  a  been  dat  all  my  life. 
Kase  I  nebber  had  a  penny  but  onct,  an'  I  lost  dat 
'hind  de  hen  house." 

Jack  smiled,  but  rather  sadly. 

"  Well,  yours  is  the  happiest  age,  after  all,  boy," 
he  said  gloomily. 

Then  all  became  silent,  Katie  wondering  why 
Mar's  Jack  did  not  speak  to  her. 

Of  what  was  he  thinking  so  intently  ? 

Something  seemed  to  trouble  him. 

After  a  long  pause,  he  rose  slowly  and  came  and 


CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE.  265 

stood  back  of  her  chair,  resting  his  hand  gently  up- 
on the  brown  head. 

"  Katie,"  he  said  at  last,  and  his  voice  was  low 
and  strange,  "  Katie  I  have  been  thinking  of  this  a 
long,  long  time.  It  is  better,  that  it  should  be  done 
at  once  when  my  resolve  is  firm." 

Katie's  heart  misgave  her.     What  did  he  mean? 

"  Katie,"  he  was  speaking  slowly,  and  with  diffi- 
culty, "  you  know  that — that  our  engagement,  was 
renewed  some  time  ago.  That  in  those  few,  short, 
happy  days,  I  called  you  mine  again.  But  now — T 
have  only  the  old  homestead,  and  the  wreck  of  my 
former  self  to  offer  you — now — Katie,  little  girl — 
you  are  free." 

Here  he  paused,  but  she  sat  with  her  face  buried 
in  her  hands,  and  made  no  answer. 

"  You  see,  child,  I  could  not  ask  you  to  marry 
me  now.  No — no — "  as  if  putting  the  thought  from 
him,  "  it  would  be  too  great  a  sacrifice." 

Again  he  paused,  but  she  did  not  lift  her  head. 

Caleb  sat  staring  with  wide  open  eyes. 

He  could  not  understand  all  this — but  was  Miss 
Katie  going  to  let  Mar's  Jack  go  ?  "  'Deed  he  wiabt 
he  could  punch  her  head  fur  her,  'deed  he  did 

Mar's  Jack's  face  was  deadly  pale. 
u 


266  CALEB,    THE   IRREPRESSIBLE. 

He  would  do  his  duty,  even  though  his  heart 
were  breaking.  Katie  could  never  be  his  now — No, 
her  youth— her  beauty — her  fortune  were  all  bar- 
riers, impassable  barriers,  between  them.  It  would 
be  wrong — unjust  to  hold  her  to  this  engagement. 
They  must  part. 

"  You  see,  child,"  Jack's  voice  was  very  low 
and  broken,  "  it  is  much  better  that  we  should  part. 
Am  I  not  right  ?  " 

But  again  no  answer. 

"  Yes,  much  better  so  —  much  better  so.  But 
O,  Katie,"  and  Mar's  Jack  broke  down  completely, 
"  I  have  loved  you  so,  so  dearly  " 

Katie  sprang  up  and  stood  before  him  with 
shining  eyes. 

"  Give  you  up,  Mar's  Jack  ?  Give  up  my  life, — 
my  happiness  ?  Don't  you  know  that  you  are  dear- 
er, a  thousand  times  dearer  than  ever  before,"  and 
she  held  out  her  arms  to  him. 

He  stood  hesitatingly  a  moment. 

"  Do  not  mistake  your  own  heart,  child.  Is 
this  a  sense  of  honor,  or  is  it  love  ?  " 

Those  soft  arms  stole  about  his  neck. 

"  Love  and  love  only,  dear,  dear  Mar's  Jack." 

He  held  her  close  to  his  heart  as  though  he 
would  never  release  her. 


CALEB,   THE   IRKEPflESSIBLE.  267 

"  I  ask  for  nothing  else  in  this  world,  my  dar- 
ling," he  whispered  fervently. 

While  Caleb,  after  staring  to  his  heart's  content, 
sprang  up  and  totally  regardless  of  orders,  turned 
three  summersaults  and  began  to  sing, 

"  O,  I'se  a  gwine  ter  be  an  angel,  hallelujah, 
I'se  a  gwine  ter  be  an  angel,  shoV 

THE  END. 

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